Fluid flow and heat transfer investigations on enhanced microchannel heat sink using oblique fins with parametric study

Enhanced microchannel heat sink with sectional oblique fin is used to modulate the flow in contrast to continuous straight fin. The re-initialization of thermal boundary layer at the leading edge of each oblique due to breakage of continuous fin into oblique sections and the secondary flow due to these oblique cuts resulted in better heat transfer and a comparable pressure drop. Extensive experimental investigations are carried out with silicon test vehicle with hydraulic diameter of 100 μm and 200 μm and de-ionized water as flowing fluid. A parametric study involving the oblique angle, fin pitch is also carried out. Appreciable heat transfer augmentation is also achieved with maximum heat transfer performance enhancement at 47% when Re = 680. Comparable pressure drop to conventional microchannel is maintained up to Re = 500. Parametric study suggests that smaller oblique angle and smaller fin pitch are beneficial for heat transfer enhancement. The performance of the microchannel with 100 μm channel width and 27° oblique angle is found to be optimum.