Effect of actuator deflection on heat transfer for low and high frequency synthetic jets

Synthetic jets are being investigated over the last four decades. Researchers have been interested in its unique applications for a wide range of flow control to thermal management of electronics applications. Synthetic jets are made up of actuators such as piezoelectric, magnetic, or linear piston technology etc. In this study, we performed an experimental and numerical investigation of a piezoelectric disk deflection over a range of frequencies in order to understand the performance for low and high frequency synthetic jets. First, we performed a numerical analysis of a piezoelectric based synthetic jet and, validated computational result with experimental findings. Numerical models are performed by using commercial finite element software. To understand the size effect on the operating frequency, three jets with different sizes are manufactured and examined. Two different low frequency synthetic jets manufactured in our laboratory and a commercially available high frequency jet are included in the present study. Heat transfer performance is given as an enhancement over natural convection heat transfer. The heat transfer enhancement factor of each of these jets with respect to natural convection is measured over a 25.4×25.4 (mm) vertical heater. Finally, power consumption of the low and high frequency synthetic jets were measured and compared. It is found that disk deflection and operating frequency are directly related to heat transfer enhancement factor, if the Helmholtz frequency of a cavity has no effect on the performance of a jet. The Helmholtz frequency of each jet was calculated to ensure that it has no effect on the synthetic jet, but we found that the commercial synthetic jet took partial advantage of Helmholtz phenomena to enhance the performances at high frequencies.