One-dimensional model of manifold microchannels for embedded cooling: Prediction of thermal performance and flow non-uniformity

Abstract

A one-dimensional model has been developed to accurately predict the thermal performance and flow nonuniformity of the manifold microchannels (MMC) for embedded liquid cooling. The model consists of onedimensional governing equations derived from the integral relations of momentum and energy over appropriately-defined two separate control volumes. To validate the model, a series of 3-D numerical simulation is conducted over the wide ranges of the Reynolds number (Rem,in) at the manifold inlet from 560 to 3190, the dimensionless hydraulic flow length (x+) from 0.012 to 0.123, and the dimensionless thermal flow length (x*) from 0.002 to 0.023. It is shown that the model provides accurate predictions of the thermal performance and flow non-uniformity (CV) of MMC heat sinks within the root mean square percentage error (RMSPE) of 6% and 26% for 50 data points, respectively. The significant improvement of the prediction accuracy is made over the earlier models with an error reduction of 82%. Finally, a design guideline for the uniform flow distribution is suggested for the first time based on a newly proposed explicit correlation for predicting the flow non-uniformity: the dynamic pressure at the manifold inlet should be kept smaller than the pressure drop across the microchannels.