Experimental investigation on cooling performance of synthetic jet

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the experimental evaluation of synthetic jets (SJs) for thermal management in compact electronic systems. Synthetic jets, characterized by their zero-net mass flux operation and compact design, offer promising advantages for efficient heat dissipation without the need for external fluid supply. The study investigates the impact of elliptical orifice shapes with varying aspect ratios (AR = 1 to 14) on cooling performance during jet impingement. A custom-built test facility was employed, comprising an SJ actuator, stainless steel test surface, power oscillator, DC power supply, and a traversing mechanism to position the actuator at varying distances. Surface temperature distributions were recorded using a thermal imaging camera (FLIR A655sc), allowing for detailed analysis of heat transfer behaviour. The results highlight those elliptical jets, especially those with an aspect ratio of 10, deliver enhanced cooling performance due to improved flow spreading and vortex interactions. These outcomes provide useful insights for the design of efficient, space-constrained thermal management solutions.