Analysis of heat transfer modes in the cooling of blocks generating different heat quantities

Abstract

Achieving improved cooling efficiency and control in electronic components with varying heat outputs can be realized through a thorough analysis of different heat transfer modes, focusing on their contributions and interactions within the system. The analysis is conducted within a cavity containing three circular blocks generating varying amounts of heat. The blocks are affixed to an insulated plate, dividing the cavity into two identical sections with different fluids and different cooling mechanisms. In the open portion of the divided cavity, block cooling is achieved through forced convection using a nanofluid, while the closed section dissipates heat through natural convection and surface radiation. The numerical solution of the governing equations is performed using Galerkin's Finite Element Method, with detailed examination of the cooling process considering various parameters, such as block displacement ($1.5\text{cm}\le y_1\le 3.25\text{cm}$) and dimensions ($0.25\text{cm}\le R\le 1.5\text{cm}$), Reynolds number ($10\le \text{Re}\le 1000$), nanoparticles nature and volumetric fraction(0 %–10 %), emissivity ($0\le \epsilon \le 1$), thermal heat ratio(0.125 to 8), and cavity inclination angle(0°–180°). The results show that the combination of natural convection and surface radiation can be highly effective, rivaling forced convection in cooling the blocks. The study shows that an increase in the Reynolds number results in a temperature reduction of up to 6 °C, while increasing the emissivity leads to a more significant drop of around 10 °C. Additionally, miniaturizing the blocks by reducing their radius by a factor of six causes the maximum temperature to rise by over 20 °C.