Prediction of micro surface cooler performance for different rectangular type microchannels dimensions

Highlights: • Stagnant points should be eliminated to enhance device's performance. • Reducing the short microchannel's depth enhance the heat transfer. • Increasing the width of short microchannel enhance the heat transfer. -- Abstract: In this publication the investigation of the heat transfer characteristics and pressure drop in a micro surface cooler for different microchannel geometries by CFD simulation is described. The simulation is considering only a single row of microchannels with laminar flow, taking advantage of symmetry effects for the total micro surface cooler device. A comparison between simulation and experimental results has been carried out. The maximum temperature deviation of 10 K has been found from the comparison study, especially for higher heat flux applied. Changing the microchannel depth and width results in a significant effect to cooling capability and the pressure drop of the system. A microchannel depth decreased by a factor of two provides a heat transfer coefficient increase of about 43% for devices made of polymer. At the same time, the heat transfer surface temperature is decreased by ten degrees. This study is expected to lead to a guideline for the optimization of micro surface coolers with short microchannels