A Theoretical Model for Axial Heat Conduction Effects During Single-Phase Flow in Microchannels

Abstract

A model is developed to analyze the effect of axial conduction on heat transfer during single-phase flow in microchannels. The axial heat conduction in the wall introduces heat flow toward the inlet section resulting in an increase in the local fluid temperature and a corresponding increase in the wall temperature. Neglecting this effect while reducing the experimental data results in a lower value of the experimental Nusselt number. The model derived in this work takes into account this effect and offers a parameter to estimate the effect introduced by the axial heat conduction effect in the wall.