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Abstract: A three-dimensional model of heat transfer and fluid flow in noncircular microchannel heat sinks is developed and analyzed numerically. It is found that Nusselt number has a much higher value at the inlet region, but quickly approaches the constant fully developed value. The temperature in both solid and fluid increases along the flow direction. In addition, the comparison of thermal efficiencies is conducted among triangular, rectangular and trapezoidal microchannels. The result indicates that the triangular microchannel has the highest thermal efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A visualization experiment is conducted to investigate the condensation of steam in a series of triangular silicon microchannels. The results indicate that droplet, annular, injection and slug-bubbly flow are the dominant flow patterns in these triangular silicon microchannels. With increased mass flow rate, or an increase in the hydraulic diameter under the same Reynolds number, the location at which the injection occurred is observed to move towards the channel outlet. The frequency of the injection increases, i.e. the flow of condensation instability is higher with increased inlet vapor Reynolds number, condensate Weber number and the prolongation of the injection location, or with a decrease in the hydraulic diameter of the channel. In addition, the wall temperature of the channel decreases along the condensation stream. The total pressure drop, the average condensation heat transfer coefficient and the average Nusselt number are observed to be larger with increased inlet vapor Reynolds number. Moreover, it is found that the condensation heat transfer is enhanced by a reduction in the channel scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A theoretical model of fluid flow and heat transfer in a heat pipe with axial “Ω”-shaped grooves has been conducted to study the maximum heat transport capability of these types of heat pipes. The influence of variations in the capillary radius, liquid–vapor interfacial shear stress and the contact angle are all considered and analyzed. The effect of vapor core and wick structure on the fluid flow characteristics and the effect of the heat load on the capillary radius at the evaporator end cap, as well as the effect of the wick structure on the heat transfer performance are all analyzed numerically and discussed. The axial distribution of the capillary radius, fluid pressure and mean velocity are obtained. In addition, the calculated maximum heat transport capability of the heat pipe at different working temperatures is compared with that obtained from a traditional capillary pressure balance model, in which the interfacial shear stress is neglected. The accuracy of the present model is verified by experimental data obtained in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]