Study of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Through Mini-Channel Heat Sink

Abstract

Mini/Micro-channel type compact heat exchangers have attracted much attention during the last decade. The reason is mainly the possibilities of reducing the size, weight and cost of the heat exchangers compared to current designs. Also, new applications, where objects of small size need to be cooled, as electronics and micro-electro-mechanical devices, require heat exchangers with miniature channels. For the application of mini channel heat exchangers, it is necessary to have accurate design tools for predicting heat transfer and pressure drop. The present paper aims to set up an experimental set-up to study the fluid flow and single phase heat transfer through mini-channel heat sink. The present set-up add to the knowledge of the fundamentals of single phase heat transfer and pressure drop in narrow channels, thereby aiding in the development of this new, interesting technology with the possibility of decreasing the size of electronics through better cooling, and of increasing the energy efficiency of thermal processes and thermodynamic cycles through enhanced heat transfer.