Heat transfer performance of microchannels with round grooves and ribs based on field synergy principle and entropy production analysis

Four kinds of microchannels with round grooves and ribs were designed: round grooves (round), round grooves and single-sided ribs (round-single), round grooves and odd-symmetric ribs (round-odd), and round grooves and doubly symmetric ribs (round-double). The effects of rib arrangement on the heat transfer performance of microchannels with round grooves and ribs were numerically investigated and then compared with the microchannel with no grooves or ribs. The heat transfer characteristics were analyzed and compared in accordance with the field synergy principle and entropy production. Results indicate that the heat transfer field of round and round-double microchannels exhibited the smallest synergy angle (alpha) and the best field synergy. The round-double microchannel produced the lowest entropy caused by heat transfer and had a minimal irreversible loss; thus, it exhibited the best heat transfer performance.