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Article
Publication date: 27 February 2024

Karthikeyan Paramanandam, Venkatachalapathy S, Balamurugan Srinivasan and Nanda Kishore P V R

This study aims to minimize the pressure drop across wavy microchannels using secondary branches without compromising its capacity to transfer the heat. The impact of secondary…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to minimize the pressure drop across wavy microchannels using secondary branches without compromising its capacity to transfer the heat. The impact of secondary flows on the pressure drop and heat transfer capabilities at different Reynolds numbers are investigated numerically for different wavy microchannels. Finally, different channels are evaluated using performance evaluation criteria to determine their effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the flow and heat transfer capabilities in wavy microchannels having secondary branches, a 3D conjugate heat transfer model based on finite volume method is used. In conventional wavy microchannel, secondary branches are introduced at crest and trough locations. For the numerical simulation, a single symmetrical channel is used to minimize computational time and resources and the flow within the channels remains single-phase and laminar.

Findings

The findings indicate that the suggested secondary channels notably improve heat transfer and decrease pressure drop within the channels. At lower flow rates, the secondary channels demonstrate superior performance in terms of heat transfer. However, the performance declines as the flow rate increased. With the same amplitude and wavelength, the introduction of secondary channels reduces the pressure drop compared with conventional wavy channels. Due to the presence of secondary channels, the flow splits from the main channel, and part of the core flow gets diverted into the secondary channel as the flow takes the path of minimum resistance. Due to this flow split, the core velocity is reduced. An increase in flow area helps in reducing pressure drop.

Practical implications

Many complex and intricate microchannels are proposed by the researchers to augment heat dissipation. There are challenges in the fabrication of microchannels, such as surface finish and achieving the required dimensions. However, due to the recent developments in metal additive manufacturing and microfabrication techniques, the complex shapes proposed in this paper are feasible to fabricate.

Originality/value

Wavy channels are widely used in heat transfer and micro-fluidics applications. The proposed wavy microchannels with secondary channels are different when compared to conventional wavy channels and can be used practically to solve thermal challenges. They help achieve a lower pressure drop in wavy microchannels without compromising heat transfer performance.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2024

Yuchun Huang, Haishu Ma, Yubo Meng and Yazhou Mao

This paper aims to study the synergistic lubrication effects of Sn–Ag–Cu and MXene–Ti3C2 to improve the tribological properties of M50 bearing steel with microporous channels.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to study the synergistic lubrication effects of Sn–Ag–Cu and MXene–Ti3C2 to improve the tribological properties of M50 bearing steel with microporous channels.

Design/methodology/approach

M50 matrix self-lubricating composites (MMSC) were designed and prepared by filling Sn–Ag–Cu and MXene–Ti3C2 in the microporous channels of M50 bearing steel. The tribology performance testing of as-prepared samples was executed with a multifunction tribometer. The optimum hole size and lubricant content, as well as self-lubricating mechanism of MMSC, were studied.

Findings

The tribological properties of MMSC are strongly dependent on the synergistic lubrication effect of MXene–Ti3C2 and Sn–Ag–Cu. When the hole size of microchannel is 1 mm and the content of MXene–Ti3C2 in mixed lubricant is 4 wt.%, MMSC shows the lowest friction coefficient and wear rate. The Sn–Ag–Cu and MXene–Ti3C2 are extruded from the microporous channels and spread to the friction interface, and a relatively complete lubricating film is formed at the friction interface. Meanwhile, the synergistic lubrication of Sn–Ag–Cu and MXene–Ti3C2 can improve the stability of the lubricating film, thus the excellent tribological property of MMSC is obtained.

Originality/value

The results help in deep understanding of the synergistic lubrication effects of Sn–Ag–Cu and MXene–Ti3C2 on the tribological properties of M50 bearing steel. This work also provides a useful reference for the tribological design of mechanical components by combining surface texture with solid lubrication.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2023-0381/

Details

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0036-8792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 October 2023

Ajay Kumar Jaiswal and Pallab Sinha Mahapatra

Maintaining the turbine blade’s temperature within the safety limit is challenging in high-pressure turbines. This paper aims to numerically present the conjugate heat transfer…

Abstract

Purpose

Maintaining the turbine blade’s temperature within the safety limit is challenging in high-pressure turbines. This paper aims to numerically present the conjugate heat transfer analysis of a novel approach to mini-channel embedded film-cooled flat plate.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical simulations were performed at a steady state using SST kω turbulence model. Impingement and film cooling are classical approaches generally adopted for turbine blade analysis. The existing film cooling techniques were compared with the proposed design, where a mini-channel was constructed inside the solid plate. The impact of the blowing ratio (M), Biot number (Bi) and temperature ratio (TR) on overall cooling performance was also studied.

Findings

Overall cooling effectiveness was always shown to be higher for mini-channel embedded film-cooled plates. The effectiveness increases with increasing the blowing ratio from M = 0.3 to 0.7, then decreases with increasing blowing ratio (M = 1 and 1.4) due to lift-off conditions. The mini-channel embedded plate resulted in an approximately 21% increase in area-weighted average overall effectiveness at a blowing ratio of 0.7 and Bi = 1.605. The lower uniform temperature was also found for all blowing ratios at a low Biot number, where conduction heat transfer significantly impacts total cooling effectiveness.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study presents a novel approach to improve the cooling performances of a film-cooled flat plate with better cooling uniformity by using embedded mini-channels. Despite the widespread application of microchannels and mini-channels in thermal and fluid flow analysis, the application of mini-channels for blade cooling is not explored in detail.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 December 2023

Jyoti Ranjan Mohapatra and Manoj Kumar Moharana

This study aims to investigate a new circuitous minichannel cold plate (MCP) design involving flow fragmentation. The overall thermal performance and the temperature uniformity…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate a new circuitous minichannel cold plate (MCP) design involving flow fragmentation. The overall thermal performance and the temperature uniformity analysis are performed and compared with the traditional serpentine design. The substrate thickness and its thermal conductivity are varied to analyse the effect of axial-back conduction due to the conjugate nature of heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The traditional serpentine minichannel is modified into five new fragmented designs with two inlets and two outlets. A three-dimensional numerical model involving the effect of conjugate heat transfer with a single-phase laminar fluid flow subjected to constant heat flux is solved using a finite volume-based computational fluid dynamics solver.

Findings

The minimum and maximum temperature differences are observed for the two branch fragmented flow designs. The two-branch and middle channel fragmented design shows better temperature uniformity over other designs while the three-branch fragmented designs exhibited better hydrodynamic performance.

Practical implications

MCPs could be used as an indirect liquid cooling method for battery thermal management of pouch and prismatic cells. Coupling the modified cold plates with a battery module and investigating the effect of different battery parameters and environmental effects in a transient state are the prospects for further research.

Originality/value

The study involves several aspects of evaluation for a conclusive decision on optimum channel design by analysing the performance plot between the temperature uniformity index, average base temperature and overall thermal performance. The new fragmented channels are designed in a way to facilitate the fluid towards the outlet in the minimum possible path thereby reducing the pressure drop, also maximizing the heat transfer and temperature uniformity from the substrate due to two inlets and a reversed-flow pattern. Simplified minichannel designs are proposed in this study for practical deployment and ease of manufacturability.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 July 2023

Shian Li, Chongyang Wang, Qiuwan Shen, Yuanzhe Cheng, Chengdong Peng, Guogang Yang and Bengt Ake Sunden

The purpose of this study is to design a new type of cold plate to improve the thermal performance of liquid-cooled thermal management system of lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to design a new type of cold plate to improve the thermal performance of liquid-cooled thermal management system of lithium-ion batteries.

Design/methodology/approach

A cold plate with leaf type channels is proposed to enhance the cooling performance. Effects of the leaf type channel parameters (i.e. channel angle 20°, 40°, 60°, 80°; coolant mass flow rate 0.25 × 10–3, 0.50 × 10–3, 0.75 × 10–3, 1.00 × 10–3, 1.25 × 10–3 kg·s−1; channel number 1, 3, 5, 7) on the performance are numerically investigated by using a 3D mathematical model.

Findings

Compared to the traditional I type channels, the leaf type channels have better cooling performance. It is found that the battery temperature variation and channel pressure drop are decreased with decreasing channel angle and increasing channel number. In addition, the cooling performance can be improved by increasing the coolant mass flow rate.

Practical implications

This study can provide guidance for the development of novel effective cold plates.

Originality/value

The design of cold plates with leaf type channels can be used in liquid-cooled thermal management system to reduce the battery temperature difference.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 10
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 January 2024

Ashok K. Barik, Swetapadma Rout, Jnana Ranjan Senapati and M.M. Awad

This paper aims at studying numerically the entropy generation of nanofluid flowing over an inclined sheet in the presence of external magnetic field, heat source/sink, chemical…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims at studying numerically the entropy generation of nanofluid flowing over an inclined sheet in the presence of external magnetic field, heat source/sink, chemical reaction along with slip boundary conditions imposed on an impermeable wall.

Design/methodology/approach

A suitable similarity transformation technique has been used to convert the coupled nonlinear partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The ODEs are then solved simultaneously using the finite difference method implemented through an in-house computer program. The effects of different controlling parameters such as magnetic parameter, radiation parameter, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, chemical reaction parameter, Reynolds number, Brinkmann number, Prandtl number, velocity slip parameter, temperature slip parameter and the concentration slip parameter on the entropy generation and Bejan number have been discussed comprehensively through the relevant physical insights for the first time.

Findings

The relative strengths of the irreversibilities due to heat transfer, fluid friction and the mass diffusion arising due to the change in each of the controlling variables have been delineated both in the near-wall and far-away-wall regions, which may be helpful for a better understanding of the thermo-fluid dynamics of nanofluid in boundary layer flows. The numerical results obtained from the present study have also been validated with results published in open literature.

Originality/value

The effects of different controlling parameters such as magnetic parameter, radiation parameter, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, chemical reaction parameter, Reynolds number, Brinkmann number, Prandtl number, velocity slip parameter, temperature slip parameter and the concentration slip parameter on the entropy generation and Bejan number have been discussed comprehensively through the relevant physical insights for the first time.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Abstract

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2023

Dhinesh S.K. and Senthil Kumar Kallippatti Lakshmanan

The purpose of this study is to increasing the gauge factor, reducing the hysteresis error and improving the stability over cyclic deformations of a conductive polylactic acid…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to increasing the gauge factor, reducing the hysteresis error and improving the stability over cyclic deformations of a conductive polylactic acid (CPLA)-based 3D-printed strain sensor by modifying the sensing element geometry.

Design/methodology/approach

Five different configurations, namely, linear, serpentine, square, triangular and trapezoidal, of CPLA sensing elements are printed on the thermoplastic polyurethane substrate material individually. The resistance change ratio of the printed sensors, when loaded to a predefined percentage of the maximum strain values over multiple cycles, is recorded. Finally, the thickness of substrate and CPLA and the included angle of the triangular strain sensor are evaluated for their influences on the sensitivity.

Findings

The triangular configuration yields the least hysteresis error with high accuracy over repeated loading conditions, because of its uniform stress distribution, whereas the conventional linear configuration produces the maximum sensitivity with low accuracy. The thickness of the substrate and sensing element has more influence over the included angle, in enhancing the sensitivity of the triangular configuration. The sensitivity of the triangular configuration exceeds the linear configuration when printed at ideal sensor dimensional values.

Research limitations/implications

The 3D printing parameters are kept constant for all the configurations; rather it can be varied for improving the performance of the sensor. Furthermore, the influences of stretching rate and nozzle temperature of the sensing material are not considered in this work.

Originality/value

The sensitivity and accuracy of CPLA-based strain sensor are evaluated for modification in its geometry, and the performance metrics are enhanced using the regression modelling.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 29 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2024

Anup Kumar, Bhupendra Kumar Sharma, Bandar Bin-Mohsen and Unai Fernandez-Gamiz

A parabolic trough solar collector is an advanced concentrated solar power technology that significantly captures radiant energy. Solar power will help different sectors reach…

Abstract

Purpose

A parabolic trough solar collector is an advanced concentrated solar power technology that significantly captures radiant energy. Solar power will help different sectors reach their energy needs in areas where traditional fuels are in use. This study aims to examine the sensitivity analysis for optimizing the heat transfer and entropy generation in the Jeffrey magnetohydrodynamic hybrid nanofluid flow under the influence of motile gyrotactic microorganisms with solar radiation in the parabolic trough solar collectors. The influences of viscous dissipation and Ohmic heating are also considered in this investigation.

Design/methodology/approach

Governing partial differential equations are derived via boundary layer assumptions and nondimensionalized with the help of suitable similarity transformations. The resulting higher-order coupled ordinary differential equations are numerically investigated using the Runga-Kutta fourth-order numerical approach with the shooting technique in the computational MATLAB tool.

Findings

The numerical outcomes of influential parameters are presented graphically for velocity, temperature, entropy generation, Bejan number, drag coefficient and Nusselt number. It is observed that escalating the values of melting heat parameter and the Prandl number enhances the Nusselt number, while reverse effect is observed with an enhancement in the magnetic field parameter and bioconvection Lewis number. Increasing the magnetic field and bioconvection diffusion parameter improves the entropy and Bejan number.

Originality/value

Nanotechnology has captured the interest of researchers due to its engrossing performance and wide range of applications in heat transfer and solar energy storage. There are numerous advantages of hybrid nanofluids over traditional heat transfer fluids. In addition, the upswing suspension of the motile gyrotactic microorganisms improves the hybrid nanofluid stability, enhancing the performance of the solar collector. The use of solar energy reduces the industry’s dependency on fossil fuels.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 5 September 2023

Ali Akbar Izadi and Hamed Rasam

Efficient thermal management of central processing unit (CPU) cooling systems is vital in the context of advancing information technology and the demand for enhanced data…

Abstract

Purpose

Efficient thermal management of central processing unit (CPU) cooling systems is vital in the context of advancing information technology and the demand for enhanced data processing speeds. This study aims to explore the thermal performance of a CPU cooling setup using a cylindrical porous metal foam heat sink.

Design/methodology/approach

Nanofluid flow through the metal foam is simulated using the Darcy–Brinkman–Forschheimer equation, accounting for magnetic field effects. The temperature distribution is modeled through the local thermal equilibrium equation, considering viscous dissipation. The problem’s governing partial differential equations are solved using the similarity method. The CPU’s hot surface serves as a solid wall, with nanofluid entering the heat sink as an impinging jet. Verification of the numerical results involves comparison with existing research, demonstrating strong agreement across numerical, analytical and experimental findings. Ansys Fluent® software is used to assess temperature, velocity and streamlines, yielding satisfactory results from an engineering standpoint.

Findings

Investigating critical parameters such as Darcy number (10−4DaD ≤ 10−2), aspect ratio (0.5 ≤ H/D ≤ 1.5), Reynolds number (5 ≤ ReD,bf ≤ 3500), Eckert number (0 ≤ ECbf ≤ 0.1) , porosity (0.85 ≤ ε ≤ 0.95), Hartmann number (0 ≤ HaD,bf ≤ 300) and the volume fraction of nanofluid (0 ≤ φ ≤ 0.1) reveals their impact on fluid flow and heat sink performance. Notably, Nusselt number will reduce 45%, rise 19.2%, decrease 14.1%, and decrease 0.15% for Reynolds numbers of 600, with rising porosity from 0.85 to 0.95, Darcy numbers from 10−4 to 10−2, Eckert numbers from 0 to 0.1, and Hartman numbers from 0 to 300.

Originality/value

Despite notable progress in studying thermal management in CPU cooling systems using porous media and nanofluids, there are still significant gaps in the existing literature. First, few studies have considered the Darcy–Brinkman–Forchheimer equation, which accounts for non-Darcy effects and the flow and geometric interactions between coolant and porous medium. The influence of viscous dissipation on heat transfer in this specific geometry has also been largely overlooked. Additionally, while nanofluids and impinging jets have demonstrated potential in enhancing thermal performance, their utilization within porous media remains underexplored. Furthermore, the unique thermal and structural characteristics of porous media, along with the incorporation of a magnetic field, have not been fully investigated in this particular configuration. Consequently, this study aims to address these literature gaps and introduce novel advancements in analytical modeling, non-Darcy flow, viscous dissipation, nanofluid utilization, impinging jets, porous media characteristics and the impact of a magnetic field. These contributions hold promising prospects for improving CPU cooling system thermal management and have broader implications across various applications in the field.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 34 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

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