Comparison of hydrothermal performance between plate fins and plate-pin fins subject to nanofluid-cooled corrugated miniature heat sinks

Thermal and hydraulic performances of two types of fin, namely plate and plate-pin, in water-cooled corrugated miniature heat sinks (MHSs) having triangular, trapezoidal, and sinusoidal shapes are evaluated. In fact, the plate-pin fins are designed and constructed based on the plate fins. Experiments are performed on the fabricated corrugated MHSs in range of Reynolds number between 100 and 900. Temperature contours and velocity vectors are also studied numerically using a CFD approach. The numerical results are validated with recorded experimental data in the present and previous studies. In addition to water, the Al2O3/water nanofluid is also testes in the corrugated MHSs, as nanofluid-cooled corrugated MHSs. The obtained results show that the thermal performance of a corrugated MHS with plate-pin fins is better than that of a corrugated MHS with plate fins. Another obvious advantage of plate-pin fins is that designers can reduce the pressure drop (or pumping power) in the corrugated MHSs for the same heat dissipation. The maximum hydrothermal performance factor of 1.84 is detected for 0.3% nanofluid flow in the corrugated MHS with sinusoidal plate-pin fins. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.