The effect of the number and configuration of flexible vortex generators on heat transfer inside a three dimensional microchannel

Abstract

Enhancing heat transfer while minimizing pressure drop is a crucial challenge in micro-scale thermal systems, particularly in high-performance cooling applications. This study investigates the impact of flexible vortex generators (FVGs) on microchannel thermal–hydraulic performance, addressing the limitations of previous rigid designs. Unlike prior studies that primarily examined fixed vortex generators, this work explores the effects of FVGs with three distinct configurations (in-line, staggered zigzag, and opposed wall) and varying numbers (one to three). The Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method is employed to model fluid–solid interactions and evaluate heat transfer enhancement. Results reveal that the staggered zigzag configuration with two FVGs yields the highest performance, increasing the performance evaluation criterion (PEC) by 16% compared to a smooth microchannel. Further optimization of FVG spacing using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) enhances PEC to 1.288. These findings highlight the significance of FVG configuration and spacing in optimizing thermal efficiency and provide valuable insights for designing next-generation microchannel cooling systems.