Pressure drop and friction factor for different shapes of microchannels

  • P. Gunnasegaran
  • , H. Mohammed*
  • , N. H. Shuaib
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

A numerical investigation has been performed on the pressure drop and friction factor of water flow in three different shapes of microchannel heat sinks which are rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular for Reynolds number range of 100-1000. The three-dimensional steady, laminar flow and heat transfer governing equations are solved using the finite volume method. It is found that the values of Poiseuille number and friction factor depend greatly on different geometrical parameters. It is also inferred that the heat sink having the smallest hydraulic diameter for each type of shapes under consideration has better performance among the other heat sinks studied. The values of Poiseuille number and friction factor increase with the increase of width-height ratio (Wc/Hc) for rectangular microchannels. For trapezoidal microchannels, the Poiseuille number and friction factor increase with the increase of bottom-to-top width ratio (b/a), increase with the decrease of height-to-top width ratio (h/a), increase with the decrease of length-tohydraulic diameter ratio (L/Dh). While for triangular microchannels, the Poiseuille number and friction factor increase with the increase of its tip angle (β). It is identified that the transition Reynolds number from laminar flow to turbulent flow is occurred at 1100.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationICEE 2009 - Proceeding 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy and Environment
Subtitle of host publicationAdvancement Towards Global Sustainability
Pages418-426
Number of pages9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameICEE 2009 - Proceeding 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy and Environment: Advancement Towards Global Sustainability

Keywords

  • Friction factor
  • Microchannels
  • Numerical simulation
  • Pressure drop

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Environmental Engineering

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