Entropy generation in conjugate heat transfer from a discretely heated plate to an impinging confined jet

In this paper the conjugate heat transfer from a finite thickness plate to a laminar confined, impinging planar jet is discussed in order to determine the solid-fluid coupling characteristics which minimize the rate of entropy generation. Velocity, pressure and temperature distributions are numerically determined using a semiimplicit finite-volume method. Velocity and temperature fields are further employed to simultaneously predict in both phases the distribution of local entropy generation. Understanding entropy generation mechanisms allows one to preliminarly assess the conjugate arrangement based on solid-fluid coupling criteria. Such an approach can be used to optimize indirect cooling schemes in electronic thermal management. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.