Thermal and flow properties of microchannels with vortex generators, flexible surfaces, and micro-baffles

The impact of combining micro-baffles, vortex generators, and elastic walls on the thermal performance of microchannels commonly utilized in many sectors has not been investigated in the literature. Using the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method, this study extensively examines the effects of integrating elastic walls, vortex generators, and the distribution of micro-baffles inside microchannels on flow dynamics and heat transfer. Results show that the arrangement of the micro-baffle with adjustable heights improves the thermal performance ratio (TPR) compared to the micro-baffles with similar heights. Each pair of elastic micro-baffles in a microchannel with a flexible upper wall interacts with the others, amplifying the displacement of the micro-baffle tip, which oscillates indefinitely without reaching a stable state. However, they achieve nearly constant conditions in the microchannels that contain only micro-baffles. Ultimately, the suggested synergetic design enhances TPR and the time and spatial average of the Nu number by 19 % and 8.03 %, respectively.