Investigation of multiwall carbon nanotube-based nanofluid advantages in microchannel heat sinks

In this Letter, the cooling performance of microchannel heat sinks, as well as a comparison of the heat the transfer efficiency of two nanofluids: Al₂O₃-water and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-water and pure water, is investigated. At first, the same pumping power inlet boundary condition, which is a standard comparison of the performance of different fluids, is applied for a single rectangular duct, and the results are stored for the modelling of the heat sink. Following this stage, a heat sink made up of aluminium with water as working fluid is modelled. After validation of the results and optimisation of the grid, the efficiency of the three fluids is compared. It is seen that by using MWCNT-water nanofluid instead of water in a typical heat sink, the mean reduction in thermal resistance for MWCNT-water and Al₂O₃-water, in comparison with using water, respectively, are 18 and 1%. This shows the great advantages of using MWCNTs in heat sinks in comparison with Al₂O₃.