Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Multiple Synthetic Jets on Heat Transfer and Pressure Loss in Minichannels

Synthetic jets can enhance thermal performance by creating wall impingement, disrupting boundary layers, and enhancing mixing within a minichannel. This study investigates using multiple synthetic jets along the length of minichannels with an aqueous–glycol mixture. Using synthetic jets, an average heat transfer coefficient increase up to 81% was demonstrated. It was also shown that pressure loss can be reduced by 78% while maintaining equivalent heat transfer performance. The effects of momentum ratio, frequency, and bulk Graetz number on heat transfer and pressure loss is presented along with an empirical correlation that predicts the heat transfer enhancement.