LAMINAR HYDRODYNAMIC AND THERMAL BEHAVIORS OF FLUID FLOWS IN MICRO-DIVERGING PLATES

The thermal and hydrodynamics behaviors of fluid flow in micro-diverging plates are studied numerically. Effects of Reynolds number on the hydrodynamics and thermal behaviors are investigated. “Halt” conditions which halt the temperature in the separation zone of micro-diverging plate have been found. The halt condition obtained from the numerical study is found to be valid in the limit of Reynolds numbers greater than 300 (Re > 300). Also, it is found that the maximum velocity in the diverging micro-channel decreases as the location proceeds, while the thickness of the separation zone increases. Also, separation zone thickness increases as Re increases at the same location, while this thickness vanishes at low Re (Re < 100). It is found the maximum skin friction at the wall increases as Re decreases.