applied

sciences
Article
Analysis of Flow Characteristics and Pressure Drop
for an Impinging Plate Fin Heat Sink with Elliptic
Bottom Profiles
Zhipeng Duan *, Xianghui Lv, Hao Ma * , Liangbin Su and Mengqiao Zhang
School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China;
18125982@bjtu.edu.cn (X.L.); 16116368@bjtu.edu.cn (L.S.); 17222026@bjtu.edu.cn (M.Z.)
* Correspondence: zpduan@bjtu.edu.cn (Z.D.); 18116018@bjtu.edu.cn (H.M.)




Received: 8 December 2019; Accepted: 24 December 2019; Published: 27 December 2019


Abstract: The performance of impingement air cooled plate fin heat sinks differs significantly from
that of parallel flow plate fin heat sinks. The impinging flow situations at the entrance and the
right-angled bends of the plate fin heat sink are quite involved. Flow characteristics of a plate fin
heat sink with elliptic bottom profiles cooled by a rectangular impinging jet with different inlet
widths are studied by numerical simulations. The results of pressure drop of numerical simulations
and experimental results match quite well. The numerical results show that at the same flow rate,
the pressure drop decreases with the increase of the impingement inlet width, and the pressure
drop increases significantly with the increase of the fin height. The larger the impingement inlet
width of air-cooled plate fin heat sink, the milder the pressure drop changes with velocity. Pressure
drop for an impinging plate fin heat sink without elliptic bottom profiles is larger than that with
elliptic bottom profiles at the same inlet width and velocity. Based on the fundamental developing
laminar continuum flow theory, an improved model which is very concise and nice for quick real
world approximations is proposed. Furthermore, this paper verifies the effectiveness of this simple
impinging pressure drop model.

Keywords: plate fin heat sink; pressure drop; impingement; elliptic bottom profiles; model

1. Introduction
As the function of modern computers advances, the dissipating heat in electronic environment
is increasing with power flux. Simultaneously, thermal dissipation in the electronic equipment is
significantly difficult because of high heat load. The cooling method with impinging flow for heat
sinks is interest of researchers for solving these problems.
If one treats fins as a hot fluid, the fins and flow paths of heat sink could be considered as a
type of heat transfer. The heat performance of a heat sink depends significantly on the flow-stream
direction. Three fundamental one-dimensional flow forms of heat interchangers including counter-flow,
cross-flow, and parallel-flow are widely used. Counter-flow has better potential to accomplish high
heat removal. The thermal performance of impinged flow may precede that of cross flow since the
flow type for a heat sink with impinging flow is in-between the counter-flow and cross-flow. So it
has a better cooling capacity for impinging flow than for parallel flow because of its high cooling
effectiveness [1].
Numerical studies were conducted by Biber [2] to estimate a single isothermal channel pressure
drop of impinging flow with variable inlet widths. Biber numerically developed the correlation for
pressure drop coefficient of heat sinks with different heat sink parameters in this work. However, the
correlation was not validated experimentally. Duan and Muzychka [3] studied the pressure drop of an

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225; doi:10.3390/app10010225 www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 2 of 17

impinging air cooled plate fin heat sink and presented a simple model and conducted experiments
to validate the approximated effectiveness of the model. Ma et al. [4] numerically investigated the
flow characteristics and made entropy generation analysis of Al2 O3 -water nanofluid in microchannel
plate fin heat sinks. Ma et al. [5] numerically investigated flow characteristics in hydrodynamic
entrance region of rectangular microchannels with lattice Boltzmann method. Kim et al. [6] studied
the jet impingement thermal performance of plate fin and pin fin heat sinks through experiments
and numeric analysis, and built a model with volume average method to investigate the pressure
drop and thermal performance. They found that optimized pin fin heat sinks demonstrated relatively
better thermal performance for low pumping power. Yang et al. [7] investigated the turbulent flow
and thermal transfer characteristics for the rotating and stationary pin-fin heat sinks subjected to
impinging air flow by means of numerical solutions. The effects of fillet profiles setting at the bottom of
channels on fluid flow and heat performance of an impinging flow plate fin heat sink were investigated
numerically by Wong and Indran [8]. Do et al. [9] proposed an improved solution to investigate the
distributions of velocity and temperature of a parallel-flow plate heat sink with uniform impingement.
Ndao et al. [10] experimentally investigated the influences of cross flow area and pin fin shapes on
the single-phase impingement point heat transfer coefficients for micro pin fins. Tang et al. [11] made
numerical simulations to analyze heat transfer characteristics of jet impingement with a novel single
cone heat sink. It is found that the heat transfer capability of a cone heat sink with fluid impingement
is better than that of a conventional plate fin heat sink. In order to analyze the effect of fin shapes on
the heat sink property, Li et al. [12] investigated the distributions of the flow fields and temperature
fields of heat sinks with short plate fins subjected to impinging flow. The pressure drop for three
sets of fin shapes including rectangular, round-headed, and elliptic were studied in this paper. They
found that the fin shapes have prominent influence on the secondary flow as well as flow separation.
Li et al. [13] experimentally and numerically investigated the thermal performance of plate fin heat sink
subjected to impinging air flow with variable Reynolds numbers, the impinging distance, and the fin
constructions. Khattak and Ali [14] made a critical review to summarize the development of air-cooled
heat sink with forced flow arrangement. Chang et al. [15] investigated the air cooling module of
electronic equipment and found the influences of heat load of heater and input current to cooler by
experiments. Wang et al. [16] investigated the performance of a thermoelectric generator which has
air cooling system and made two-stage optimized design. Saraireh [17] made the three-dimensional
computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer capabilities for the
plate fin and pin fin heat sinks with different inlet velocities. Hussain et al. [18] developed a CFD
model to compare the flow and thermal characteristics for the plate fin heat sink of fillet profiles in
parallel flow arrangement with that of a rectangular channel without fillet profiles in impinging flow.
Feng et al. [19] made numerical simulations to investigate the thermal and flow performance of heat
sinks which possess finned metal foam subjected to impinging air flow with different configuration
parameters. Hadad et al. [20] developed a V-groove cool-plate to investigate its pressure drop and
thermal performance and made a structural optimization. They studied the effect of tilt angle on
flow and thermal performance simultaneously. Kaloudis et al. [21] used the standard k-ε model
to make numerical simulations and found the conjugate heat transfer effects in a computer chassis.
Fully and partially shrouded heat sinks with forced convection flow were used by Prstic et al. [22] to
numerically and experimentally study the influence on thermal performance, and they found that the
pressure drop with partially shrouded heat sinks decreased 50% compared with fully shrouded heat
sinks. Mesalhy et al. [23] experimentally and numerically studied the hydrodynamic and heat transfer
characteristics for a plate fin heat sink with a variable rectangular impinging jet. Chen et al. [24]
made numerical simulations to investigate the performance of the thermoelectric generator system
and optimized the operation by Taguchi method. Rezania and Rosendahl [25] compared the cooling
performance of micro-structured flat-plate heat sinks with that of cross-cut heat sinks in thermoelectric
generation application. Leng et al. [26] developed a three-dimensional solid-fluid model to complete
the optimization of thermal performance and bottom wall temperature uniformity for double-layered
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 3 of 17

heat sink with the method of simplified conjugate gradient. Naphon et al. [27] investigated the flow
performance of micro-channel heat sink with impinging nanofluids flow employing experiments and
numerical simulations. Huang and Chen [28] made numerical simulations on account of optimal
design problems for non-uniform fin heights and widths applied in the impinging heat sink module.
Chen et al. [29] made numerical simulations to investigate the flow and thermal performance for
the impingement/effusion double-wall heat exchanger with different cooling crossflow arrangements
including zero, maximum, blocked maximum crossflow. They found that the blocked maximum
crossflow displays relatively better cooling performance for the Reynolds numbers of 1000 compared
to zero crossflow. Liang et al. [30] carried out a novel optimal design of an air-to-air heat exchanger
with cross-corrugated triangular ducts employing particle swarm optimization algorithm, considering
the Colburn factor, friction factor, and comprehensive thermal hydraulic performance index as the
objective functions. Ling et al. [31] investigated the flow characteristics of non-Newtonian nanofluids
flow in shell side of helical baffled heat transfer combined with elliptic tubes. They pointed out that a
remarkable heat transfer enhancement can be obtained. Thermal shock was used by Chang et al. [32]
to inhibit biofilm formation in the treated sewage source heat pump system.
As a cooling method with promising development prospects, impinging jet cooling will be
more widely used to solve cooling problems in various fields. Most of the researches carried out for
impinging air cooling were concentrated on the effect of the heat sink geometry. The goal of this
paper is to study the pressure drop distribution of a plate fin heat sink based on impinging flow with
different inlet widths, fin heights, flow velocities, and channel shapes and verify the effectiveness of
this improved concise pressure drop model.
For engineering applications, it is convenient to employ a general simple pressure drop model
to predict pressure drop of fluid flow in impinging plate fin heat sinks. This proposed model
should be preferable because the difficulty and investment are negligible compared with the cost
of alternative methods such as CFD simulations or other approaches. CFD simulations, molecular
dynamic simulations, or lattice Boltzmann equation method require great computational effort, which is
not justified in practical and engineering calculations. The developed models are useful for the practical
engineering design of microchannel plate fin heat sinks because they indicate the effects of various
independent parameters such as the inlet width, fin height, flow velocity, and the effective lengths
of these two orthogonal channels. When the inlet width, fin height, flow velocity, and the effective
lengths of these two orthogonal channels are known, the pressure drop can be expediently obtained
using commercially available algebraic software tools such as Maple or Matlab.

2. Materials and Methods

To the best knowledge of the authors, the investigations for the effects of adding elliptic bottom
profiles (fillet profiles) to a plate fin heat sink are scarce. The objective of this study is to investigate
the flow characteristics of a plate fin heat sink with elliptic bottom profiles subjected to impinging air
flow. The fillet profile is shaped as semiellipt which has the major semiaxis and minor semiaxis of
1.5 mm and 1.125 mm, respectively. Simulations are carried out by the software Fluent. The model
is developed for the low Reynolds number laminar flow in the inter-fin channels of impingement
flow plate fin heat sinks as shown in Figure 1. The computational unit of the number 5 plate fin heat
sink is shown in Figure 1b, with a fillet profile on the bottom of the channel, which is different from
other traditional heat sinks. In this study, five different inlet widths are considered including 10% L,
25% L, 50% L, 75% L, and 100% L. The air enters in the middle top then exits from the sides (TISE).
Biskeborn et al. [33] made an experiment to report the flow characteristics for unique “serpentine”
squared pin fins with TISE arrangement. Hilbert [34] developed an original laminar flow heat sink
model which uses two kinds of fin shapes including triangular and trapezoidal on the inclined planes
of the base. In this paper, we choose five kinds of plate fin heat sinks subjected to impinging flow,
which are different from each other in geometry. The geometry parameters of the plate fin heat sink is
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 4 of 17

shown in Table 1. According to the table, the plate fin heat sink of #1 and #2 are same in geometrical
parameters except
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, the height.
x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 18

(a) (b)

Figure 1. The
Figure physical
1. The model
physical of the
model ofplate fin heat
the plate sink.sink.
fin heat (a) Schematic diagram
(a) Schematic of a of
diagram plate fin heat
a plate sink,sink,
fin heat
(b) computational unit unit
(b) computational of #5of
plate fin heat
#5 plate sink.sink.
fin heat

Table 1. Geometry parameters of the plate fin heat sinks.

Table 1. Geometry parameters of the plate fin heat sinks.
Dimension
Dimension # 1# 1 # 2# 2 # 3 # 3 # 4 # 4 # 5 #(with Elliptic Bottom Profiles)
5 (with Elliptic Bottom Profiles)
LL (mm)(mm) 127 127 127
127 127 127 127 127 127 127
W (mm) 122 122 116 116 122
W (mm) 122 122 116 116 122
tb (mm) 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7
t b
t (mm) (mm) 12.7
1.2 1.212.7 1.2 12.7 1.212.7 1.2 12.7
t (mm) 2.251.2 2.251.2 4.271.2 4.271.2
b (mm) 2.25 1.2
H b(mm) (mm) 26.5 2.2550.02.2534.04.2750.04.27 26.5 2.25
Nf 36 36 22 22 36
H (mm) 26.5 50.0 34.0 50.0 26.5
Nf 36 36 22 22 36
One dimensional pressure drop model of plate fin heat sink subjected to impinging flow is
developed One as dimensional
follows. We choose pressure drop
one model
channel of plate fin heat
as computational sink subjected
domain and only to impinginghalf
investigated flow is
developed
of the heat sinkas follows.
because ofWe
the choose
symmetry one for
channel as computational
flow and domain and
pressure distributions only
of the investigated
other half. This half
of thecan
approach heat sink
lead tobecause of thesimplification,
considerable symmetry forespecially
flow andwhen
pressure distributions
the original problemof the othera half.
requires greatThis
deal of time and computational steps. Then we obtain the simplified model as shown in Figure 2. Leff1 a
approach can lead to considerable simplification, especially when the original problem requires
and great deal of time
Leff2 represent and computational
the effective steps.two
lengths of these Then we obtainchannels.
orthogonal the simplified modelofas
This shape shown
the in Figure
streamline
2. Lcan
length eff1 and Leff2 represent
be considered the effective path
as a right-angled lengths
withoforthogonal
these twoheight
orthogonal channels.
of 0.5 H This shape
and orthogonal lengthof the
streamline
of (0.5 L–0.25 s).length
The flow cansituation
be considered as a right-angled
at the entrance of the plate path with
fin heat orthogonal
sink height as
is very involved, of well
0.5 Has and
orthogonal length
the right-angled bends.of (0.5 L–0.25 s). The flow situation at the entrance of the plate fin heat sink is
very involved, as well as the right-angled bends.
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 5 of 17
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 5 of 18

Figure 2. The simplified model.

Figure 2. The simplified model.
Three fundamental assumptions are made in the process of numerical simulations for the pressure
Three fundamental assumptions are made in the process of numerical simulations for the
drop of plate fin heat sink subjected to impinging flow:
pressure drop of plate fin heat sink subjected to impinging flow:
(1) Steady incompressible flow;
(1) Steady incompressible flow;
(2) Negligible buoyancy, viscous heating;
(2) Negligible buoyancy, viscous heating;
(3) Constant fluid properties.
(3) Constant fluid properties.
The continuity
The continuity equation,
equation, momentum
momentum equations
equations are
are shown
shown as
as follows
follows
∂u ∂v∂u ∂w∂v ∂w
+ + =0 (1) (1)
∂x ∂y∂x + ∂z∂y + ∂z = 0
∂u ∂u ∂u 1 ∂p μ 2
u + v ∂u+ w ∂u = − ∂u + 1 ∂p ∇ uµ (2)
∂x ∂uy + v∂z + wρ ∂= x − ρ + ∇2 u (2)
∂x ∂y ∂z ρ ∂x ρ
∂v ∂v ∂v 1 ∂p μ 2
u + v ∂v+ w ∂v = − ∂v + 1 ∂p ∇ vµ (3)
∂x ∂uy + v∂z + wρ ∂= y − ρ + ∇2 v (3)
∂x ∂y ∂z ρ ∂y ρ
∂w ∂w ∂w 1 ∂p μ 2
u +v +w =− + ∇ w
∂x u ∂w ∂z + wρ∂w∂z= −ρ1 ∂p + µ ∇2 w
∂y + v ∂w (4)
(4)
∂x ∂y ∂z ρ ∂z ρ
Since the measurement of local pressure along the flow is difficult in microchannels, the
Since the measurement
measurement of local
of the pressure droppressure
acrossalong the flow
the inlet andisoutlet
difficult in microchannels,
manifolds is only the measurement
conducted. The
of the pressure drop across the inlet and outlet manifolds is only conducted.
resulting pressure drop measurement represents the combined effect of the losses in the bends,The resulting pressure
drop measurement
entrance represents
and exit losses, the combined
developing effect of
region effects, andthecore
losses in the bends,
frictional losses. entrance and exit
The pressure droplosses,
data
developing
are affected region effects, and
by microscale, coreshould
which frictional
not losses.
come as The pressuresince
a surprise dropvalues
data are
foraffected by microscale,
the macroscale have
which
been should empirically
obtained not come asfrom
a surprise since values
measurements. for the macroscale
According have
to Bernoulli’s been obtained
equation, empirically
the pressure drop
from measurements.
model According
expression is written to Bernoulli’s
considering equation,
both the the and
frictional pressure droplosses.
dynamic model expression is written
 the frictional and dynamic
considering both  losses.
Leff 1 4 H 2 Leff 2 1 
ΔP =  K c + K ort" + 4 f app1  2 +!4 f app + K e  ρ#Vch2 2 (5)
 ∆P = Kc + Kort + Dh1  sLe f f 1 4H
2
2
Dh2 Le f f 2  2 1
4 fapp1 2
+ 4 fapp2 + Ke ρVch2 2 (5)
Dh 1 s Dh 2 2
Duan and Muzychka proved that in the neighborhood of circular and parallel plate channels (
x + ≤Duan
0.001)and Muzychka
inlets, f app Re isproved that in the neighborhood
almost independent of circular
of channel shape. Duan and
et al.parallel platenumerical
[35] made channels
(x+ ≤ 0.001) of
simulations inlets, fapp Redrop
pressure is almost independent of channel
for three-dimensional shape.
rectangular Duan et al. [35]
microchannels. made
Duan andnumerical
He [36]
demonstrated that a relationship between the rate of the dimensionless mean wall shearHe
simulations of pressure drop for three-dimensional rectangular microchannels. Duan and [36]
stress
demonstrated that a relationship between the rate of the dimensionless mean wall shear
reduction and the rate of the dimensionless mean wall heat flux reduction might exist. Duan et al. stress
reduction
[37] and the rate
demonstrated thatof theappropriate
the dimensionless
dragmean wall heat
coefficient fluxbe
could reduction might
related to exist. Duan
the Nusselt et al. The
number. [37]
boundary layer performance in the position of channel entrance is generally identical to that in a thin
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 6 of 17

demonstrated that the appropriate drag coefficient could be related to the Nusselt number. The
boundary layer performance in the position of channel entrance is generally identical to that in a thin
plate. It clarifies the reason that fapp Re is almost independent of channel shape in the neighborhood
of the inlet. The influences of geometry characters become more prominent with the boundary layer
developing in downstream (x+ > 0.001). The accessorial pressure defect Φ(x+ ) in a rectangular channel
can be calculated with a model developed by Duan and Muzychka [38,39] in terms of developing
laminar regime:

24  
fapp ReDh =   + Φ x+ (6)
2  192( Hb )
   
π
1 + ( Hb ) 1− π5
tanh + 1 3π
243 tanh 2( b )
2( Hb ) H

∞
1 X (3 − exp(−4α2 x+ )) exp(−4α2 x+ )
i i
Φ (x+ ) = −2 (7)
3x+ (1 + 8Kn∗ )2 i=1 αi +
x (1 + 8Kn∗ + 4(αi Kn )2 )
∗

L
x+ = (8)
Dh ReDh
The friction factor and Reynolds number product of rectangular ducts short asymptote for slip
flow is almost independent of the duct shape and therefore can be used to calculate by Equation (7).
In order to predict the pressure loss of plate fin heat sinks, an asymptotic limit method is employed
here. The eigenvalue αi is suitable for this equation

αi J0 (αi ) − 2(1 + Kn∗ α2i ) J1 (αi ) = 0 (9)

The first kind of order ν Bessel function is expressed by Jv (x). Only the first two items in
the infinite series are really contributed, which are applied in practical engineering limit of x+ ≥
0.01. It is concluded that Equation (6) absolutely properly approaches the x+ → 0 asymptote 2/Kn∗ .
Consequently, the complicated form can be simplified as Equation (10) without ignoring accuracy too
much in the calculation of the friction factor and Reynolds number product for practical engineering
applications. It can also be demonstrated that Equation (6) reduces to its continuum flow limits as
Kn∗ → 0:
fapp ReDh = " 24
192( b )
( ! !#)
2
(1+( Hb )) 1− π5H tanh 2(πb ) + 243
1 tanh 3π
b
2( )
H H
2 [3−exp(−4α2 x+ )] exp(−4α2 x+ )
(10)
1 P i i
+ 3x+ − 2 2 + αi x
i=1

As the expression of Equation (11) demonstrated, f ReDh represents the friction factor Reynolds
number group in fully developed flow regime, which is merely the function of b/H

24
f ReDh =  (11)
2  192( Hb )
    
π
1 + ( Hb ) 1− π5
tanh + 1 3π
243 tanh 2( b )
2( Hb ) H

The effectiveness of this fully developed model was validated with a great deal of available data.
The experimental data of 0 < H/s < 1.4 for pressure loss coefficient of the 90 deg bend are obtained
from Idelchik [40] and curve fitted as following.
 2  3
H H H
Kort = 3.64 − 9.15 + 10.87 − 4.29 (12)
s s s
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 7 of 18

2 3
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 H H  H 7 of 17
K ort = 3.64 − 9.15 + 10.87   − 4.29   (12)
s  s   s 
The pressure
The pressure loss
loss coefficient
coefficient values
values of
of 90
90 deg
deg bend
bend model
model can
can be
be calculated
calculated with
with the
the formula
formula
H s>>1.4
developed by Kondo et al. [41] when H/s 1.4
2
 1 + Vch 2 Vch1 
= 0.5 
!2
K ort 
1 + Vch2 /V ch1 (13)
Kort = 0.5 2 2
(13)
Pressure drop form Δ P = K ( ρ V 2 2 ) is provided by Kays et al. [41], which is a function of
 
Pressure
free-flow area drop
ratio form ∆P =area
for frontal K ρV 2 /2 is provided by Kays et al. [41], which is a function of
σ = b ( b + t ) to calculate the pressure losses between the inlet
free-flow area ratio for frontal area σ = b/(b + t) to calculate the pressure losses between the inlet
and exit. Contraction and expansion loss coefficients are obtained through curve fitting the data
and exit. Contraction and expansion loss coefficients are obtained through curve fitting the data from
from Kays et al. [42]:
Kays et al. [42]:
K c = 0.4
Kc = σ 21 −
1 −0.4

+ 0.4

σ2 + 0.4 ( ) (14)
(14)
Ke = 1K− =
e
2
σ 1 −−0.4 σ2 σ− 0.4σ

( ) (15)
(15)

3. Results and Discussion

The number of grids has great influence on the time and precision
precision of
of calculation.
calculation. So we choose
the number of grids considering
considering both
both the
the precision
precision requirements
requirements and
and computational
computational time.
time. Several
appropriate grids that are suitable need to
to be
be designed. The number
designed. The number of grids was changed from
approximately 33,655 to 3,876,420 nodes, and the numerical simulation results are summarized in
Figure 3.

50

33655

40 465234
3876420
pressure drop(Pa)

30

20

10

0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2
velocity(m/s)

Figure 3. Grid independence verification results.

As
As shown
shownininFigure
Figure 3, the result
3, the is almost
result independent
is almost of grid of
independent numbers and thereand
grid numbers is nothere
significant
is no
change of the pressure drop results for different grids. The results of pressure drop
significant change of the pressure drop results for different grids. The results of pressure drop for for the plate fin
heat sink with the number of grids of 33,655 has a relatively large deviation, and the
the plate fin heat sink with the number of grids of 33,655 has a relatively large deviation, and the maximum error is
nearly 2%. The results of pressure drop for the number of grids of 465,234
maximum error is nearly 2%. The results of pressure drop for the number of grids of 465,234 andand 3,876,420 match quite
well, the deviation
3,876,420 match quite is 1% which
well, is relatively
the deviation small.
is 1% which A is
grid of 465,234
relatively small.nodes wasofchosen
A grid 465,234for the grid
nodes was
number of these numerical simulations considering computational time.
chosen for the grid number of these numerical simulations considering computational time.
The
The experiments
experiments of of pressure
pressure drop
drop forfor plate
plate fin
fin heat
heat sinks
sinks inin laminar regime with
laminar regime with different
different inlet
inlet
widths
widths subjected to impinging air flow were conducted by Duan and Muzychka [3]. Kim et al. [43]
subjected to impinging air flow were conducted by Duan and Muzychka [3]. Kim et al. [43]
also
also made
made numerical simulations for
numerical simulations for pressure
pressure drop
drop ofof plate fin heat
plate fin heat sinks
sinks subjected to impinging
subjected to impinging airair
flow
flow with
with the
the software
software ICEPAK
ICEPAK produced
produced by by ANSYS
ANSYS Inc. Figure 44 compares
Inc. Figure compares the
the pressure
pressure drop
drop for
for
by Duan and Muzychka [3] and Kim et al. [43].
As shown in Figure 4, the pressure drop results obtained from the numerical simulation have a
great consistency compared with those experimental data by Duan and Muzychka [3] and
simulation results by Kim et al. [43]. Numerical simulation pressure drop results obtained by Kim et
al. and the numerical simulations in the present study match well and the maximum error is within
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 8 of 17
15%. The agreement of pressure drop results between present numerical simulations and the
experimental data obtained by Duan and Muzychka [3] is quite satisfying in view of the
plate fin heat of
uncertainties sink subjected
pressure to measurements.
drop impinging air flow
The obtained in the
effectiveness ofpresent study
the results with that
obtained conducted
in the present
by Duan
paper was and Muzychka
validated well.[3] and Kim et al. [43].

20

s=100% L present numerical results

s=100% L experiment results ([3])

15 s=100% L numerical data ([43])

pressure drop(Pa)

10

0
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
velocity(m/s)
Figure 4.
Figure Comparison between
4. Comparison between the
the present
present results
results and
and experimental
experimental data
data by
by Duan
Duan and
and Muzychka
Muzychka [3]
[3]
and simulation results by Kim et al. [43].
and simulation results by Kim et al. [43].

Asthis
In shown
paper,in Figure
we also4, compare
the pressure
the drop results
pressure dropobtained
of numberfrom1 the numerical
plate simulation
fin heat sink for s = have
10% La
great consistency compared with those experimental data by Duan and Muzychka
obtained from present numerical simulations with that obtained by experiments performed by Duan [3] and simulation
results
and by Kim et[3].
Muzychka al.As
[43]. Numerical
shown simulation
in Figure pressure
5, the error bars drop results
of 20% obtained
is sketched inby Kim
this et al. and
picture and the
the
numerical simulations in the present study match well and the maximum error is
present results agree well with the experimental results by Duan and Muzychka [3]. All the points within 15%. The
agreement
lie of pressure
within the range of drop results between
experimental presentand
uncertainties numerical simulations
the maximum and the
deviation experimental
is no more than data
18%
obtained by Duan and Muzychka [3] is quite satisfying
which is fairly fulfilling in consideration of uncertainty. in view of the uncertainties of pressure drop
measurements. The effectiveness of the results obtained in the present paper was validated well.
In this paper, we also compare the pressure drop of number 1 plate fin heat sink for s = 10% L
obtained from present numerical simulations with that obtained by experiments performed by Duan
and Muzychka [3]. As shown in Figure 5, the error bars of 20% is sketched in this picture and the
present results agree well with the experimental results by Duan and Muzychka [3]. All the points lie
within the range of experimental uncertainties and the maximum deviation is no more than 18% which
is fairly fulfilling in consideration of uncertainty.
The results of pressure drop obtained from different research groups are shown in Figures 5 and 6.
The numerical simulations are performed with different channel widths for b = 1.44 mm and b = 2 mm.
The length and width used in this model are set to be 40 mm and 40 mm and the fin thickness is
0.5 mm, which is consistent with the model geometry parameters of Kim et al. [6]. Figure 6 showed
that the present results by numerical simulations are in great agreement with the experimental results
obtained from Kim et al. [6]. As shown in Figure 6, the maximum deviation of the present results
and the experimental results obtained by Kim et al. [6] is 19%. The results acquired from numerical
simulations are in agreement with experimental data provided by Kim et al. [6] in consideration of
relatively large uncertainty for the experimental measurement.
 s=10% L,present results
50

Pressure drop(Pa)
40
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 9 of 17
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x30
FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 18

70
20

60 s=10% L,experimental data ([3])

10
s=10% L,present results
50
0
Pressure drop(Pa)
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2
40 Velocity(m/s)

Figure 5. Comparison
30 between the present numerical simulations and the experimental results
obtained by Duan and Muzychka [3].
20
The results of pressure drop obtained from different research groups are shown in Figures 5
and 6. The numerical
10 simulations are performed with different channel widths for b = 1.44 mm and b
= 2 mm. The length and width used in this model are set to be 40 mm and 40 mm and the fin
thickness is 0.5 mm,0 which is consistent with the model geometry parameters of Kim et al. [6]. Figure
6 showed that the 0.4 present0.6results
0.8by numerical
1.0 1.2 simulations
1.4 1.6are in
1.8great2.0agreement
2.2 with the
experimental results obtained from Kim et al. Velocity(m/s)
[6]. As shown in Figure 6, the maximum deviation of
the present results and between
the experimental results obtained by Kim experimental
et al. [6] isresults
19%. The results
Figure 5.5.Comparison
Figure Comparison between thethe
present numerical
present simulations
numerical and theand
simulations the experimentalobtained
results
acquired
by from
Duan andnumerical
Muzychka simulations
[3]. are in agreement with experimental data provided by Kim et
obtained by Duan and Muzychka [3].
al. [6] in consideration of relatively large uncertainty for the experimental measurement.
The results of pressure drop obtained from different research groups are shown in Figures 5
12
and 6. The numerical simulations are performed with different channel widths for b = 1.44 mm and b
b=2mm present results
= 2 mm. The length and b=2mm width used results
experimental in this
[6]) model are set to be 40 mm and 40 mm and the fin
b=1.44mm experimental results [6]
thickness is 0.5 mm,
10 whichb=1.44mm
is consistent with the model geometry parameters of Kim et al. [6]. Figure
present results
6 showed that the present results by numerical simulations are in great agreement with the
Pressure drop(Pa)

experimental results
8 obtained from Kim et al. [6]. As shown in Figure 6, the maximum deviation of
the present results and the experimental results obtained by Kim et al. [6] is 19%. The results
acquired from numerical
6 simulations are in agreement with experimental data provided by Kim et
al. [6] in consideration of relatively large uncertainty for the experimental measurement.
4
12
b=2mm present results
2 b=2mm experimental results [6])
b=1.44mm experimental results [6]
10 b=1.44mm present results
0
Pressure drop(Pa)

0.0005 0.0010 0.0015 0.0020 0.0025 0.0030 0.0035

8
3
Flow rate(m /s)

Figure 6
Figure 6.6.Comparison
Comparisonbetween thethe
between present numerical
present simulations
numerical and theand
simulations experimental results obtained
the experimental results
by Kim et al. [6].
obtained by Kim et al. [6].
4
This paper
This paper investigates
investigatesthe thepressure
pressuredrop
dropof of
thethe
plate
platefin fin
heatheat
sinksink
subjected to impinging
subjected air flow
to impinging air
with different inlet
flow with different widths,
inlet fin heights,
widths, fin and the
heights, shapes
and theof flow
shapes channels.
of flow The pressure
channels. The drop values
pressure for
drop
2
the plate
values forfinthe
heat sinkfin
plate withheatdifferent inletdifferent
sink with velocitiesinlet
andvelocities
construction andparameters
construction areparameters
obtained with are
numerical simulations
obtained with numerical in the current
simulations paper.
in There
the are
current eight
paper. different
There velocities
are eight applied to velocities
different make the
0
numerical simulations
0.0005 for the plate fin0.0015
0.0010 heat sink with
0.0020impinging0.0025air flow, the corresponding
0.0030 0.0035 velocity
values are as follows: 0.3 m/s, 0.5 m/s, 0.6 m/s, 0.7 m/s, 3 0.8 m/s, 1.0 m/s, 1.5 m/s, and 2.0 m/s. The
Flow rate(m /s)
maximum value of Reynolds number is 1270, which belongs to laminar flow regime.
Figure 76.shows
Figure Comparison between the
the comparison present
of the numerical
streamlines in Y-Zsimulations
symmetry and the for
plane experimental results
the plate fin heat sink
obtained by Kim et al. [6].
subjected to impinging air flow without elliptic bottom profiles and that with elliptic bottom profiles
in the condition of different velocities for s = 10% L, and the comparison of velocity contours in Y-Z
This paper investigates the pressure drop of the plate fin heat sink subjected to impinging air
symmetry plane for the plate fin heat sink with and without elliptic bottom profiles for s = 10% L. The
flow with different inlet widths, fin heights, and the shapes of flow channels. The pressure drop
figures (left: a, b, c) show the streamlines in Y-Z symmetry plane for the plate fin heat sink with elliptic
values for the plate fin heat sink with different inlet velocities and construction parameters are
obtained with numerical simulations in the current paper. There are eight different velocities
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 10 of 17

bottom profiles on the bottom of the channels. As we can see, the flow impinging to the heat sink
creates one vortex which occurs because of the jet impingement with the heat sink base. Relatively
higher velocity results in a larger vortex for the heat sink with the same impinging inlet width. There
are two vortices in Y-Z symmetry plane when the velocity increases to 2.0 m/s. For higher velocity,
the generated vortex is strengthened because of the decreasing viscous force. As the elliptic bottom
profiles are added to the channels, the jet vortex becomes smaller. This approach leads to smooth flow
in the channels and the vortex because of impingement shifts to the direction of the outlet, away from
the symmetry plane.
Figures 8–11 compare the pressure drop for the number 1 to number 4 plate fin heat sinks subjected
to impinging air flow for different inlet widths obtained from the present model and the numerical
simulation results with the experimental data acquired by Duan and Muzychka [3]. Results for the
pressure drop obtained from the experiments, the present model and the present numerical simulations
match quite well and the maximum error is no more than 25%. The pressure drop increases with
a decrease in impingement inlet width for the same flow rate. The pressure drop of the plate fin
heat sink under impinging air flow increases with the inlet velocity especially obvious for larger inlet
width. The change rate of pressure drop increases with the decreasing inlet width. As the inlet width
increases, the pressure drop in the Z-direction slightly decreases, which is caused by the decrease in the
averaged velocity. In the same plate fin heat sink flow path, increasing the velocity directly leads to the
collision between the fluid molecules, and the fluid molecules exchange momentum with each other
to generate more energy loss, and the quantity of surrounding fluid induced by the jet impingement
increases with the increased speed. The motion causes a greater viscous force and more intense shear
stress, and momentum exchange occurs between the fluids at the boundary at the two sides of the jet
impingement, which in turn causes an increase in maximum pressure drop.
Figure 12 shows the comparison of the pressure drop for plate fin heat sinks with elliptic bottom
profiles and without elliptic bottom profiles on the bottom of the channels. It can be observed that
the pressure drop for the plate fin heat sink without elliptic bottom profiles is larger than that for
plate fin heat sink with elliptic bottom profiles especially for the smaller inlet width. The differences
of the pressure drop for the heat sink with or without elliptic bottom profiles on the bottom of the
channels are not very obvious for the larger inlet width. The contact resistance is decreased with the
presence of elliptic bottom profiles due to the additional substrate materials adding at the bottom of
fins, which makes channels smoother. When modifying rectangular channels into channels with elliptic
bottom profiles, the contact area between the cooling fluid and heat sink is slightly increased. The
friction between the cooling fluid and solid and the flow resistance losses will decrease significantly
as a result. The perpendicular angle bend flow in a channel with fillet profile becomes significantly
smoother as well. It is worth mentioning that Figure 12 expresses the comparison of the pressure drop
for the plate fin heat sink subject to impinging air flow without elliptic bottom profiles and that with
elliptic bottom profiles. This modification may shed some light on a better design for heat sinks.
Figure 13 shows the comparison of the velocity distributions at the plane of half fin height
Z = 13.25 mm for the plate fin heat sink without elliptic bottom profiles and that with elliptic bottom
profiles for s = 10% L. The results demonstrate a striking trend: the mean velocity is smaller for
the channels with elliptic bottom profiles as compared to channels without elliptic bottom profiles,
regardless of the channel width. The distribution of velocity for the plate fin heat sink with elliptic
bottom profiles is more uniform than that without elliptic bottom profiles. There are three peak
velocities at the condition of v = 0.5 m/s for the plate fin heat sink without elliptic bottom profiles.
The change from a rectangular channel to a fillet profile channel reduces the friction and the contact
area between the fluid and the fin due to the addition of the fillet profile, which will lead to a smaller
pressure drop.
Relatively higher velocity results in a larger vortex for the heat sink with the same impinging inlet
width. There are two vortices in Y-Z symmetry plane when the velocity increases to 2.0 m/s. For
higher velocity, the generated vortex is strengthened because of the decreasing viscous force. As the
elliptic bottom profiles are added to the channels, the jet vortex becomes smaller. This approach
leadsSci.
Appl. to2020,
smooth flow in the channels and the vortex because of impingement shifts to the direction
10, 225 11 of of
17
the outlet, away from the symmetry plane.

(a) v = 0.5 m/s (e) v = 0.5 m/s

(b) v = 1.0 m/s (f) v = 1.0 m/s

Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 18

(c) v = 2.0 m/s (g) v = 2.0 m/s

(d) v = 2.0 m/s (h) v = 2.0 m/s

Figure7.7.Streamlines
Figure StreamlinesininY-Z Y-Zsymmetry
symmetryplaneplanefor
forthe
theplate
platefin
finheat
heatsink
sinkwith
with(left:
(left:(a–c))
(a–c))and
andwithout
without
(right:
(right:(e–g))
(e–g))elliptic
ellipticbottom
bottomprofiles
profilesininthe conditionofofs =s 10%
thecondition L for
= 10% different
L for velocities
different velocities v =1.0,
v = 0.5, 0.5,
and
1.0,2.0
andm/s;
2.0 velocity contours
m/s; velocity in Y-Zinsymmetry
contours planeplane
Y-Z symmetry for theforplate
the fin
plateheat
finsink
heatwith
sink (left:
with (d))
(left:and
(d))
without (right:(right:
and without (h)) elliptic bottom
(h)) elliptic profiles
bottom in thein
profiles condition of s = of
the condition 10%s L =for
10%v =L2.0 v = 2.0 m/s.
form/s.

Figures 8–11 compare the pressure drop for the number 1 to number 4 plate fin heat sinks
subjected to impinging air flow for different inlet widths obtained from the present model and the
numerical simulation results with the experimental data acquired by Duan and Muzychka [3].
Results for the pressure drop obtained from the experiments, the present model and the present
numerical simulations match quite well and the maximum error is no more than 25%. The pressure
drop increases with a decrease in impingement inlet width for the same flow rate. The pressure drop
of the plate fin heat sink under impinging air flow increases with the inlet velocity especially
obvious for larger inlet width. The change rate of pressure drop increases with the decreasing inlet
width. As the inlet width increases, the pressure drop in the Z-direction slightly decreases, which is
exchange momentum with each other to generate more energy loss, and the quantity of surrounding
fluid induced by the jet impingement increases with the increased speed. The motion causes a
greater viscous force and more intense shear stress, and momentum exchange occurs between the
fluids at the boundary at the two sides of the jet impingement, which in turn causes an increase in
maximum pressure
Appl. Sci. drop.
2020, 10, 225 12 of 17

60

s=10% L, present results

s=10% L, present model
50 s=10% L, experimental data ([3])
s=50% L, present results
s=50% L, present model
s=50% L, experimental data ([3])
s=100% L, present results
pressure drop(Pa)

40 s=100% L, present model

s=100% L, experimental data ([3])

30

20

10

0
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2
velocity(m/s)
Figure
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x FOR PEER 8. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #1 plate fin heat sink.
REVIEW 12 of 18
Figure 8. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #1 plate fin heat sink.

70 s=10% L, present results

s=10% L, present model
s=10% L, experimental data ([3])
60 s=50% L, present results
s=50% L, present model
s=50% L, experimental data ([3])
50 s=100% L, present results
pressure drop(Pa)

s=100% L, present model

s=100% L, experimental data ([3])
40

30

20

10

0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0

velocity(m/s)
Figure 9. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #2 plate fin heat sink.
Figure 9. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #2 plate fin heat sink.

30
s=25% L, present results
25
s=25% L, present model
s=25% L, experimental data ([3])
s=75% L, present results
s=75% L, present model
pressure drop(Pa)

20
s=75% L, experimental data ([3])

15

10

5
 10
10
0
0
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
velocity(m/s)
velocity(m/s)
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 13 of 17
Figure 9. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #2 plate fin heat sink.
Figure 9. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #2 plate fin heat sink.
30
30
s=25% L, present results
s=25% L,
s=25% L, present
present model
results
25 s=25% L,
L, experimental
present modeldata ([3])
25 s=25%
s=25% L,
s=75% L, present
experimental
resultsdata ([3])
s=75% L,
s=75% L, present
present model
results

drop(Pa)
20
s=75% L,
L, experimental
present modeldata ([3])

pressuredrop(Pa)
20 s=75%
s=75% L, experimental data ([3])
15
pressure 15

10
10

5
5

0
0 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2
velocity(m/s)
velocity(m/s)
Figure Comparisons
10. 10.
Figure Comparisonsofofthe
the pressure dropfor
pressure drop forthe
the#3#3 plate
plate finfin heat
heat sink.
sink.
Figure 10. Comparisons of the pressure drop for the #3 plate fin heat sink.

10
10
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW
s=25% L, present results 13 of 18
9 s=25% L,
L, present
present model
results
9 s=25%
s=25% L, experimental data ([3]) s=25% L, present model
Figure 12 shows8 the comparison
s=25% L, of the pressure
L, present
experimental drop for plate fin heat sinks with elliptic
8 s=75% resultsdata ([3])
bottom profiles and without elliptic s=75% L,
s=75% L, present
present
bottom resultsprofiles on the bottom of the channels. It can be
model
drop(Pa)

7 s=75% L,L, experimental

present modeldata ([3])
drops=75%
pressuredrop(Pa)

7
observed that the pressure for the plate fin heat
s=75% L, experimental data ([3]) sink without elliptic bottom profiles is larger
than that for plate 66fin heat sink with elliptic bottom profiles especially for the smaller inlet width.
The differences of the
5 pressure drop for the heat sink with or without elliptic bottom profiles on the
pressure

5
bottom of the channels are not very obvious for the larger inlet width. The contact resistance is
decreased with the44 presence of elliptic bottom profiles due to the additional substrate materials
adding at the bottom3 of fins, which makes channels smoother. When modifying rectangular
3
channels into channels with elliptic bottom profiles, the contact area between the cooling fluid and
2
heat sink is slightly2 increased. The friction between the cooling fluid and solid and the flow
1
resistance losses will decrease significantly as a result. The perpendicular angle bend flow in a
10.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1
0.2
channel with fillet profile 0.3
becomes 0.4significantly
0.5 0.6
smoother 0.7 as well.
0.8 It is0.9worth1.0 1.1
mentioning that Figure
velocity(m/s)
12 expresses the comparison of the pressure drop velocity(m/s)
for the plate fin heat sink subject to impinging air
flow without elliptic
Figure bottom profiles and that with elliptic bottom profiles. This modification may
Figure
Figure11. 11.
11.
Comparisons
Comparisons
Comparisons ofof the
ofthe
the
pressure
pressure
pressure drop
drop
dropforforthe
for the#4
the
plate
#4#4
finfin
plate
plate
heat sink.
heat
fin heat sink.
sink.
shed some light on a better design for heat sinks.

50
s=10 % L, rectangle
s=10 % L, fillet profile
s=25 % L, rectangle
40 s=25 % L, fillet profile
s=75 % L, rectangle
s=75 % L, fillet profile
pressure drop(Pa)

s=100 % L, rectangle
30 s=100 % L, fillet profile

20

10

0
0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2
velocity(m/s)

Figure 12. Comparison

Figure 12. Comparison of of
thethepressure
pressuredrop
drop of
of plate finheat
plate fin heatsink
sinkwith
with elliptic
elliptic bottom
bottom profiles
profiles and and
without elliptic
without bottom
elliptic profiles
bottom onon
profiles the
thebottom
bottomof
of the
the channels.
channels.

Figure 13 shows the comparison of the velocity distributions at the plane of half fin height Z =
13.25 mm for the plate fin heat sink without elliptic bottom profiles and that with elliptic bottom
profiles for s = 10% L. The results demonstrate a striking trend: the mean velocity is smaller for the
channels with elliptic bottom profiles as compared to channels without elliptic bottom profiles,
regardless of the channel width. The distribution of velocity for the plate fin heat sink with elliptic
bottom profiles is more uniform than that without elliptic bottom profiles. There are three peak
velocities at the condition of v = 0.5 m/s for the plate fin heat sink without elliptic bottom profiles.
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 14 of 17
Appl. Sci. 2019, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 14 of 18

Rectangular channels v = 0.5 m/s

Rectangular channels with elliptic bottom profiles v = 0.5 m/s

Rectangular channels v = 1.0 m/s

Rectangular channels with elliptic bottom profiles v = 1.0 m/s

Rectangular channels v = 2.0 m/s

Rectangular channels with elliptic bottom profiles v = 2.0 m/s

Figure 13.Figure 13. Comparisons

Comparisons of theof velocity
the velocity distributions atat
distributions thethe
plane of half
plane of fin height
half Z = 13.25Zmm
fin height for
= 13.25 mm for
the plate fin heat sinks #1 and #5.
the plate fin heat sinks #1 and #5.

4. Conclusions
This paper investigated the pressure drop of a plate fin heat sink subjected to an impinging flow
with elliptic bottom profiles. Comprehensive evaluation for fluid flow performance was studied as
well. Investigations were performed for variable velocities, fin heights, fin spacings, and inlet channel
widths. Distribution of streamlines and velocities of different shaped heat sink were plotted in this
work. Results for the pressure drop obtained from the numerical simulations and the experiments
performed by Duan and Muzychka [3] fit well and the maximum error is no more than 25%, which is
fairly fulfilling in consideration of the experimental uncertainty. The flow situation at the entrance
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 15 of 17

of the plate fin heat sink is extremely complicated, as well as the right-angled bends. Based on the
fundamental laminar developing continuum flow theory in the entrance of ducts, an improved model
which is very concise and nice for quick real world approximations was proposed. When comparing
the results for the pressure drop obtained from the numerical calculations and the proposed improved
model, the maximum deviation is no more than 15%. It is pronounced that plate fin heat sinks with
elliptic bottom profiles possess lower pressure drop and more uniform velocity distribution than
that without elliptic bottom profiles with the same inlet widths and velocities. The change from a
rectangular channel to an elliptic bottom profile channel reduces the friction and the contact area
between the fluid and the fin due to the addition of the elliptic bottom, which leads to a smaller
pressure drop. Larger inlet width leads to lower pressure drop regardless of the velocity.
Therefore, the developed model may be used to predict the pressure drop of fluid flow in
impinging plate fin heat sinks for minimizing the effort and expense of experiments, especially in the
design and optimization of microchannel plate fin heat sinks for engineers and scientists.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization, Z.D. and X.L.; methodology, Z.D.; software, L.S. and H.M.; validation,
Z.D. and X.L.; writing—review and editing, Z.D. and X.L. All authors discussed the results. All authors have read
and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under No. 51576013 and
the National Key R&D Program of China under No. 2017YFB0102101.
Acknowledgments: The authors acknowledge Michael Yovanovich and Yuri Muzychka, who introduced the first
author to the development of compact models of pressure drop for plate fin heat sinks.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Abbreviations
Nomenclature
b fin spacing, m
Dh hydraulic diameter, m
f, fapp friction factor and apparent friction factor, respectively
H fin height, m
Kc , Ke contraction and expansion loss coefficient, respectively
Kort loss coefficient due to 90 deg bend in airflow
Kn∗ modified Knudsen number
L length of heat sink base, m
Leff effective length, m
Nf number of fins
∆P pressure drop, Pa
ReDh channel Reynolds number, = Dh Vch /v
s impingement inlet width, m
t fin thickness, m
tb base plate thickness, m
uvw velocity components of X,Y,Z coordinates
W width of heat sink base, m
x+ dimensionless flow length
Greek symbols
αi eigenvalue
µ dynamic viscosity, N·s/m2
ρ density of air, kg/m3
σ fraction of frontal free flow area
Subscripts
1 based upon vertical channel
2 based upon horizontal channel
ch channel
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 225 16 of 17

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