Optimization of Design Parameters for a Sandwich-Distribution Porous-Microchannel Heat Sink

Abstract

This study optimizes the thermal performance of a microchannel heat sink with a sandwich-distribution porous medium using the geometric variables as search parameters. The optimal approach integrates the simplified conjugate-gradient method and a three-dimensional porous heat sink model as an optimiser. The proposed optimal design parameters, i.e., the channel number, channel width, and porous medium thickness, enhance the thermal performance by 50% and reduce the pressure drop by 52.2% over those of a porous-heat sink without geometric optimisation. The proposed combined approach is robust because the same optimal set of parameters is obtained with different initial guesses. Simulations indicate that the optimal thermal resistance decreases and the corresponding optimal values of both the channel number and the porous medium thickness increase, whereas the channel width decreases with increasing pumping power. However, the effectiveness reduces significantly at high pumping power. Additionally, the effects of porosity of the porous medium on the optimal thermal resistance are insignificant.

Notes

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