A role for hydrophobic nanostructures in optimizing microchannel heat sinks.

Liquid cooling integrated in microchannel heat sinks (MCHSs) is a technology that can be used for high heat flux dissipation in electronic components. The pressure drop experienced within microchannels continues to present a limitation on their application. This study investigates the impact on performance of adding hydrophobic nanostructures within MCHSs. The model used is based on a single-phase flow in a rectangular channel with a given aspect ratio. The results, employing an evaluation matrix of the microchannel performance, will be a comparison of test cases at different Reynolds numbers, with and without the nanostructures. The study will further evaluate the influence of the flow development accounting for viscosity variations when there are temperature variations. The findings of this study hold great significance as they offer insights into the design optimization and performance of microchannel-based cooling systems.