A CFD analysis of the performance of pin-fin laminar flow micro/meso scale heat exchangers
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Authors
Dimas, Sotirios.
Subjects
Advisors
Gopinath, Ashok
Sinibaldi, Jose O.
Date of Issue
2005-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
A full three dimensional computational study was carried out using a finite-volume based solver for analyzing the performance of pin-fin based micro/meso scale heat exchangers with air as the working fluid. A staggered arrangement of cylindrical pin fins in rectangular channel geometry was used. Various configurations were considered consistent with a parallel experimental study being conducted based on a micro-wind tunnel setup. The pin/channel height used was 0.4 mm, and the pin diameters varied from 0.17-0.50 mm to give hydraulic diameters in the range of 0.13-0.78 mm. This gave volumetric area densities for the heat exchangers in the range of 5-15 mm2/mm3. Various heat exchanger configurations were simulated to determine performance characteristics such as the Nusselt number, friction factor, specific fluid friction power and Mach number in the Reynolds number regime for laminar flows. In addition a detailed numerical diagnosis was carried out to determine local behavior on the pin surfaces, end walls, etc to identify specific characteristics such as regions of high and low heat transfer, locations for possible shock formation, etc. The range of results obtained would be useful for future design of micro heat exchangers for use in small footprint, high heat flux dissipation applications like turbine blade and microelectronic systems.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xvi, 89 p. : ill. (some col.) ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.