Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geometric optimization for a thermal microfluidic chip

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A geometric design for a microfluidic chip using numerical simulation is presented. Finite element method was employed in order to design the microchannel configuration for a microfluidic chip array. The effect of geometry on the thermal response at the interface between the microfluidic chips and an integrated system, such as a micro-electronic device, was investigated. Dimensionless design charts, obtained from the parametric models, demonstrated that a compromise between a maximum heat transfer and a minimum interface temperature was achieved with an equilateral triangle cross-section at a microchannel spacing to width ratio of two. The transient response of the microfluidic chip implied that the transient analysis corresponded to the steady state results under different boundary conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. T. P. Cotter, Principles and prospects for micro heat pipes, 5th International Heat Pipe Conference, Tsukuba, Japan (1984) 328–335.

  2. P. Sabounchi, et al., Soft-state biomicrofluidic pulse generator for single cell analysis, Applied Physics Letters, 88(18) (2006) 183901.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. A. Hiratsuka, et al., Organic plasma process for simple and substrate-independent surface modification of polymeric BioMEMS devices, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 19(12) (2004) 1667–1672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. A. Faghri, Heat pipe science and technology, Taylor & Francis, Washington, DC (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  5. C. W. Liu, C. Gau and B. T. Dai, Design and fabrication development of a micro flow heated channel with measurements of the inside micro-scale flow and heat transfer process, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 20(1) (2004) 91–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. S. Launay, V. Sartre and M. Lallemand, Experimental study on silicon micro-heat pipe arrays, Applied Thermal Engineering, 24(2–3) (2004) 233–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. L. J. Brognaux, et al., Single-phase heat transfer in micro-fin tubes, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 40(18) (1997) 4345–4357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. J. Li, G. P. Peterson and P. Cheng, Three-dimensional analysis of heat transfer in a micro-heat sink with single phase flow, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 47(19–20) (2004) 4215–4231.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Ghajar, J. Darabi and N. Crews Jr, A hybrid CFDmathematical model for simulation of a MEMS loop heat pipe for electronics cooling applications, Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 15(2) (2005) 313–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. S.-W. Kang, S.-H. Tsai and M.-H. Ko, Metallic micro heat pipe heat spreader fabrication, Applied Thermal Engineering, 24(2–3) (2004) 299–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. C. H. Shen and C. Gau, Thermal chip fabrication with arrays of sensors and heaters for micro-scale impingement cooling heat transfer analysis and measurements, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 20(1) (2004) 103–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. D. M. Leatzow, et al., Attachment of plastic fluidic components to glass sensing surfaces, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 17(1–2) (2002) 105–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. D. Therriault, S. R. White and J. A. Lewis, Chaotic mixing in three-dimensional microvascular networks fabricated by direct-write assembly, Nature Materials, 2(4) (2003) 265–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. T. Kimura, et al., Thermal conductivity and RF signal transmission properties of Ag-filled epoxy resin, New Orleans LA, United States, (2003) 1383–1390.

  15. J. F. Mark, et al., Array Biosensor: Optical and Fluidics Systems, Biomedical Microdevices, V1(2) (1999) 139–153.

    Google Scholar 

  16. B. Suman and N. Hoda, Effect of variations in thermophysical properties and design parameters on the performance of a V-shaped micro grooved heat pipe, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 48(10) (2005) 2090–2101.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  17. B. Suman, S. De and S. DasGupta, A model of the capillary limit of a micro heat pipe and prediction of the dry-out length, International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, 26(3) (2005) 495–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. H. B. Ma and G. P. Peterson, Experimental investigation of the maximum heat transport in triangular grooves, Transactions of the ASME. Journal of Heat Transfer, 118(3) (1996) 740–746.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. G. P. Peterson, A. B. Duncan and M. H. Weichold, Experimental investigation of micro heat pipes fabricated in silicon wafers, Journal of Heat Transfer, Transactions ASME, 115(3) (1993) 751–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. J. T. Dickey and T. T. Lam, Impact of channel geometry on heat transfer in microchannel for high density electronics cooling, Kauai, Hi, United States (2001) 681–686.

  21. J. Li and G. P. Peterson, Geometric optimization of a micro heat sink with liquid flow, IEEE Transactions on Components and Packaging Technologies, 29(1) (2006) 145–154.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  22. P. M. Y. Chung, et al., Two-Phase Flow Through Square and Circular Microchannels-Effects of Channel Geometry, Journal of Fluids Engineering, 126(4) (2004) 546–552.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. L. Zhang, et al., Phase change phenomena in silicon microchannels, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 48(8) (2005) 1572–1582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. H. B. Ma and G. P. Peterson, Temperature variation and heat transfer in triangular grooves with an evaporating film, Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 11(1) (1997) 90–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. P. C. Stephan and C. A. Busse, Analysis of the heat transfer coefficient of grooved heat pipe evaporator walls, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 35(2) (1992) 383–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. B. Suman and P. Kumar, An analytical model for fluid flow and heat transfer in a micro-heat pipe of polygonal shape, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 48(21–22) (2005) 4498–4509.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  27. M. Rahmat, Geometric optimization for a thermal microfluidic chip, in Mechanical Engineering. 2007, McGill University: Montreal. 124.

    Google Scholar 

  28. I. Tiselj, et al., Effect of axial conduction on the heat transfer in micro-channels, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 47(12–13) (2004) 2551–2565.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. T. Motoyama and R. Hackam, Effect of temperature and water salinity on hydrophobicity of epoxy resin, Kitchener, ON (2001) 157–160.

  30. Y. A. Cengel, Heat Transfer: a practical approach, Second ed, McGraw-Hill, New York (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  31. N.-C. Tsai and C.-Y. Sue, SU-8 based continuous-flow RTPCR bio-chips under high-precision temperature control, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 22(2) (2006) 313–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 2K6

    Meysam Rahmat & Pascal Hubert

Authors
  1. Meysam Rahmat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pascal Hubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pascal Hubert.

Additional information

This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Ji Hwan Jeong

Meysam Rahmat Received his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST) in 2004. He completed his Master of Engineering in the department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University, and started his Ph.D. in the same department in 2007.

Pascal Hubert (Ph.D. Metals and Materials Engineering, The University of British Columbia) holds a Canada Research Chair in Advanced Composite Materials. He is an associate professor at McGill University in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (since September 2002). Dr. Hubert has 90 refereed journal and conference publications with over 20 publications in the area of nanocomposites and on the processing and performance of composite materials.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rahmat, M., Hubert, P. Geometric optimization for a thermal microfluidic chip. J Mech Sci Technol 24, 2143–2150 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-0710-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-0710-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation