Laminar convective heat transfer of nanofluids in a microchannel heat sink with internal longitudinal fins

The conjugate heat transfer and fluid flow of three different water-based nanofluids (Al2O3, CuO, ZnO) through a finned square microchannel heat sink (MCHS) was studied numerically. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed considering both laminar flow and viscous dissipation effect along the microchannel. A constant heat flux was assumed on the external surface of the microchannel. The MCHS performance is evaluated in terms of the heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and thermal resistance for constant inlet velocity. The results show an increase in the heat transfer and pressure drop for nanofluids, while the thermal resistance of the microchannel decreases. A slight increase for developed Nusselt number is achieved for the finned MCHS in comparison with an unfinned channel.