Title: Convective exergy losses of developing slip flow in microchannels

Authors: E.O.B. Ogedengbe, G.F. Naterer, M.A. Rosen

Addresses: CANMET Energy Technology Centre-Ottawa, 1 Haanel Drive, Nepean ON K1A 1M1, Canada. ' Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7K4, Canada. ' Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7K4, Canada

Abstract: A numerical formulation of convective exergy losses in microchannels is developed. Using a new convection model (called Non-Inverted Skew Upwind Scheme (NISUS)), the predicted velocity field is post-processed to determine frictional irreversibilities within the microchannel. Boundary conditions are established from a first-order slip velocity, based on streamwise temperature gradients and transverse velocity gradients at the wall. Parametric studies are conducted for varying flow rates, channel aspect ratios, slip coefficients and pressure ratios across the microchannel. The predicted exergy destruction results provide useful new data, from which design modifications can be made to reduce power input when transporting fluid through a microchannel.

Keywords: microchannels; exergy loss; slip flow; convective exergy; frictional irreversibilities; fluid flow; flow rates; channel aspect ratios; slip coefficients; pressure ratios.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.015080

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.4, pp.384 - 400

Published online: 11 Sep 2007 *

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