Numerical investigation for the effects of surface roughness in counter flow microchannel heat exchanger with different channels geometries

This article presents a numerical investigation focused on how roughness of surface affects the overall performance of a counter-flow microchannel heat exchanger (CFMCHE). The study examines various microchannel shapes, including triangles, squares, circles, and trapezoids, to evaluate their performance within the context of CFMCHE. Water with consistent properties flows through aluminum microchannels used as the working fluid. The analysis employs the roughness-viscosity method to assess how surface roughness influences the CFMCHE’s performance. The study’s findings emphasize that the trapezoidal channel shape exhibits the most favorable performance among the shapes investigated. Additionally, among the operational parameters considered, the hydraulic diameter emerges as the most influential factor in determining the most suitable characteristics for CFMCHE. The presence of surface roughness was found to marginally improve thermal performance while slightly reducing hydraulic efficiency. This research provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between surface roughness and channel shape. Notably, the impact of roughness is more pronounced in the case of the trapezoidal shape compared to other geometries.