Performance Evaluation Criteria for Triangular Microchannels with Smoothed Corners

Abstract The manufacturing capabilities available today for microchannels make it possible to produce in a comparatively easy, quick and cheap way several cross-sections, possibly allowing modifications of the macro-geometry. Another is smoothing corners polygona cross-sections: this eliminates low-gradient areas increases transport phenomena, i.e. frictional losses heat transfer. Several ways assessing relative performance new shape comparison original have been suggested over years, among which are Performance Evaluation Criteria (PEC), as proposed by Bergles Webb. PEC based on first-law analysis aim at extremising thermal power, exchange area, inlet temperature difference or pumping power under varying constraints. In work equilateral triangular with uniform wall considered, through liquid flows fully-developed, steady laminar regime. cross-sectional area has its progressively rounded, velocity profiles determined, order compute Poiseuille, Nusselt Stanton numbers, then employed computing objective functions some PEC.