This study compares two numerical strategies for modeling flow and heat transfer through mini- and microchannel heatsinks, the unit cell approximation, and the full 3D model, with the objective of validating the former approach. Conjugate heat transfer and laminar flow through a 2 × 2 cm2 copper–water heatsink are modeled using the finite element package COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0. Parametric studies showed that as the heatsink channels’ widths were reduced, and the total number of channels increased, temperature and pressure predictions from both models converged to similar values. Relative differences as low as 5.4% and 1.6% were attained at a channel width of 0.25 mm for maximum wall temperature and channel pressure drop, respectively. Due to its computational efficiency and tendency to conservatively overpredict temperatures relative to the full 3D method, the unit cell approximation is recommended for parametric design of heatsinks with channels’ widths smaller than 0.5 mm, although this condition only holds for the given heatsink design. The unit cell method is then used to design an optimal heatsink for server liquid cooling applications. The heatsink has been fabricated and tested experimentally, and its thermal performance is compared with numerical predictions. The unit cell method underestimated the maximum wall temperature relative to experimental results by 3.0–14.5% as the flowrate rose from 0.3 to 1.5 gal/min (1.1–5.7 l/min).
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December 2019
Research-Article
The Effectiveness of the Unit Cell Method in Numerically Modeling and Designing Liquid Cooled Heatsinks
Ali C. Kheirabadi,
Ali C. Kheirabadi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
e-mail: ali.cherom.k@dal.ca
Dalhousie University
,Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
Canada
e-mail: ali.cherom.k@dal.ca
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Dominic Groulx
Dominic Groulx
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
e-mail: dominic.groulx@dal.ca
Dalhousie University
,Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
Canada
e-mail: dominic.groulx@dal.ca
Search for other works by this author on:
Ali C. Kheirabadi
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
e-mail: ali.cherom.k@dal.ca
Dalhousie University
,Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
Canada
e-mail: ali.cherom.k@dal.ca
Dominic Groulx
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
e-mail: dominic.groulx@dal.ca
Dalhousie University
,Halifax, NS B2V 2W1,
Canada
e-mail: dominic.groulx@dal.ca
Contributed by the Heat Transfer Division of ASME for publication in the Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications. Manuscript received July 3, 2018; final manuscript received March 9, 2019; published online May 13, 2019. Assoc. Editor: Samuel Sami.
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. Dec 2019, 11(6): 061007 (11 pages)
Published Online: May 13, 2019
Article history
Received:
July 3, 2018
Revision Received:
March 9, 2019
Accepted:
March 10, 2019
Citation
Kheirabadi, A. C., and Groulx, D. (May 13, 2019). "The Effectiveness of the Unit Cell Method in Numerically Modeling and Designing Liquid Cooled Heatsinks." ASME. J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl. December 2019; 11(6): 061007. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4043185
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