The Effect of Cross-Sectional Shape on the Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Microchannel Heat Sinks

Microchannel heat sinks are widely used in thermal management systems due to their compact design and efficient heat transfer. To further enhance performance, this study uses numerical simulations to explore the heat transfer characteristics of rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, and circular microchannels while maintaining equal cross-sectional areas. At Re = 900, the triangular microchannel demonstrates optimal heat transfer performance (HTP) but the weakest hydraulic performance, with a 5.56% reduction in thermal resistance and a 54.45% increase in pumping power compared to the rectangular microchannel. The circular microchannel exhibits the worst HTP but the best hydraulic performance, with a 12.78% increase in thermal resistance and a 32.04% reduction in pumping power. The trapezoidal microchannels HTP and hydraulic performance are similar to those of the rectangular one. This paper provides a theoretical basis for optimizing microchannel heat sink designs by evaluating the HTP and hydraulic performance of different cross-sectional shapes. The findings offer insights into the trade-offs between heat transfer efficiency and hydraulic performance, helping guide future design improvements for microchannel heat sinks in thermal management applications.