An evaluation of heat transfer and pressure drop performance of superhydrophobic surfaced integral mini-channel heat sinks with nanofluids

Heat transfer and pressure drop are the main parameters to be addressed in designing a thermal management system. This experimental work focuses to study the effect of superhydrophobic coating on the heat transfer and pressure drop-in integral mini-channel heat sink using distilled water and TiO₂ aqueous nanofluids with 0.01 and 0.02% volumetric concentration at power input of 40, 55 and 70 W. Volumetric flow rate was varied from 300 mL min⁻¹ to 700 mL min⁻¹ with Reynolds number from 402 to 1238. The results were recorded at steady state, and the test rig was validated by comparing the results of water with theoretical model of Peng and Peterson. The data emphasize a tremendous performance of the superhydrophobic mini-channel heat sink with significant effect on heat transfer and superb decrement in pressure drop. A maximum heat transfer enhancement of 31.37%, 18.96% and 19.86% with 31%, 16% and 14.42% decrement in pressure drop was recorded for water, TiO₂ (0.01%) and TiO₂ (0.02%), respectively. It can be concluded that mini-channel heat sink with special surfaces surpassed the simple mini-channel heat sink with fabulous augmentation in heat transfer and significant decline in pressure drop. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)