Forced convective cooling via acoustic streaming in a narrow channel established by a vibrating piezoelectric bimorph

Abstract

Forced convection in a narrow channel is investigated both numerically and experimentally. The flow field is established through the mechanism of acoustic streaming. This is accomplished by high frequency vibration of one of the channel walls, which is composed of a piezoelectric bimorph. In the numerical computations, the Navier-Stokes equations are decomposed into the acoustic equations and the streaming equations by the perturbation method. The acoustic field is first numerically obtained, which provides the driving force for the streaming field. The streaming field and the associated temperature field are then obtained numerically. Heat losses from a heat source are measured to determine the efficiency of this as a cooling method. The air-flow patterns in the channel between the heat source and the bimorph actuator are visualized using the particle tracking velocimetry. The visualization clearly shows that vortical streaming (acoustic streaming) can be induced by bimorph vibration, which enhances heat transfer between the heat source and the surrounding air. The temperature decreases obtained computationally and experimentally are in good agreement. © Springer 2005.