Optimal geometric structure for nanofluid-cooled microchannel heat sink under various constraint conditions

A numerical model is developed to analyze the flow and heat transfer in nanofluid-cooled microchannel heat sink (MCHS). In the MCHS model, temperature-dependent thermophysical properties are taken into account due to large temperature differences in the MCHS and strong temperature-dependent characteristics of nanofluids, the model is validated by experimental data with good agreement. The simplified conjugate-gradient method is coupled with MCHS model as optimization tool. Three geometric parameters, including channel number, channel aspect ratio, and width ratio of channel to pitch, are simultaneously optimized at fixed inlet volume flow rate, fixed pumping power, and fixed pressure drop as constraint condition, respectively. The optimal designs of MCHS are obtained for various constraint conditions and the effects of inlet volume flow rate, pumping power, and pressure drop on the optimal geometric parameters are discussed.

► An inverse geometry optimization method is used to optimize heat sink structure.
► Nanofluid is used as coolant of heat sink.
► Three parameters are simultaneously optimized at various constraint conditions.
► The optimal designs of nanofluid-cooled heat sink are obtained.