Synergistic Thermal–Hydraulic optimization of serpentine Liquid-Cooled cold plates using V-shaped rib turbulators and WO3–Water nanofluids for High-Heat-Flux electronics

This study investigates advanced cooling strategies for high-density electronic systems subjected to increasing thermal loads. A multi-tier enhancement approach for liquid-cooled cold plates is proposed, combining geometry-induced turbulence and nanofluid-based thermal augmentation. Specifically, a serpentine-channel cold plate was optimized by integrating 500 µm V-shaped ribs to disrupt boundary-layer development and enhance convective heat transfer. Computational fluid dynamics simulations, validated against experimental benchmarks, demonstrated a 14–20% reduction in thermal resistance compared to traditional smooth channels. Furthermore, four water-based nanofluids with volume concentrations between 0.5% and 2.0% were analyzed at flow rates of 1.0–1.5 LPM. Adjustments to thermophysical properties—such as increased thermal conductivity (∼9.9%) and decreased specific heat (up to 12.6%)—were observed, along with moderate increases in viscosity and density. These property modifications yielded notable performance improvements, including a 6–8% rise in Nusselt number, a 7–10% decrease in thermal resistance, and an 8–15% increase in pressure drop relative to pure water. The synergistic effects of rib-induced turbulence and nanofluid conductivity enhancement offer a promising pathway for the development of next-generation cold plate designs. Optimal results were obtained at a nanoparticle concentration of 1.5%, balancing thermal performance and hydraulic considerations. This work provides a comprehensive framework for the multi-objective optimization of cold plate systems, contributing to the advancement of high-efficiency thermal management solutions in data centers, power electronics, and electric mobility applications.