Experimental assessment of entropy generation for pin fin heat sink

Channelization of energy improves the ability of a thermal management system. Pin fins are commercially used in various heat sink applications due to their optimum performance. The present study evaluates a pin fin heat sink (PFHS) using an entropy generation approach. Inline and staggered pin fins with wings are compared with the conventional pin fins for the pin-fin pitch ratio (PFPR) of 2-4 and the wing length ratio (WLR) of 0.2-0.6 in the Reynolds number range of 6800 to 15,100. The total entropy generation decreases with the increase in PFPR and the decrease in WLR. The minimum thermal and frictional entropy generation corresponds to the PFPR of 4 for both inline and staggered pin-fin arrangements. The maximum and minimum total entropy generation are found at the PFPR of 2 (for inline) and 4 (for staggered), respectively. The optimum value of total entropy generation is found for the PFPR of 4 and WLR of 0.2 in both arrangements (inline and staggered).