| Hydrodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of fluid flow through heated microchannel heat sinks are analyzed. Developing fluid flow and heat transfer in the microchannel are assumed, and are modelled in three dimensions throughout the heat sink. Fluid flow is laminar and incompressible throughout the channel, and constant heat flux is applied at the outer surface of the microchannel heat sink. All other outer boundaries are adiabatic. The conventional Navier-Stokes equations and energy equations are solved using CFX-TASCflow: a computer code which uses a finite volume method of solution and is based on a finite element approach for representing the geometry. The main focus of this thesis is on obtaining overall thermal resistance of heat sinks with varying geometries, thermal conductivities, and Reynolds numbers. Results for the axial variation of fluid heat input and fluid bulk temperature, the angular distribution of fluid heat flux, isotherm plots in the heat sink solid, and heat sink surface temperature are also presented. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
