Oscillatory Streaming Flow Based Mini/Microheat Pipe Technology

The sustained drive for faster and smaller micro-electronic devices has led to a considerable increase in power density. The ability to effectively pump and enhance heat transfer in mini-/microchannels is of immense technological importance. Using oscillatory flow to enhance the convective heat transfer coefficients in micro-/minichannels is one of many new concepts and methodologies that have been proposed. In this paper, a novel and simple concept is presented on oscillating streaming flow based mini/microheat pipe or heat spreader technology. Phenomena of the flow streaming can be found in zero-mean velocity oscillating flows in many channel geometries. Although there is no net mass flow (zero-mean velocity) passing through the channel, discrepancy in the velocity profiles between the forward and backward flows causes fluid particles near the walls to drift toward one end while particles near the centerline drift to the other end. This unique characteristic of flow streaming could be used for various applications. Some of the advantages include enhanced heat/mass transfer, pumpless fluid propulsion, multichannel fluid distribution, easy system integration, and cost-effective operation. Preliminary work has been conducted on scaling analysis, computer simulations, and visualization experiments of fluid streaming, propulsion, and multichannel distribution by flow oscillation in minitapered channels and channel networks. Results show that streaming flow has the potential to be used as a cost-effective and reliable heat pipe and/or as a heat spreader technique when fluid thermal conductivity is low.