In this study, the entropy generation of Fe 3 O 4-water nanofluid flow in the porous ribbed microchannel heat sink with two approaches is investigated. For modeling, the nanofluid flow inside of porous ribbed microchannel heat sink with two models is classified. The range of Reynolds number and porosity of ribbed blocks is 10 ≤ Re ≤ 80 and 0 ≤ ≤ 75 %. The effects of Reynolds number, porosity and compression between microchannel without any rib, microchannel with solid rib and microchannel with LTNE porous rib for two models are investigated. The highest value for the coefficient of heat transfer occurs in the maximum value of volume concentration of nanoparticles, Reynolds number and porosity percent. We realized that, in this investigation, the mixture model represents higher value than single-phase model except in the zero percent of volume fraction of nanoparticles. Also, we showed that the entropy generation increases by increasing the porosity value. Keywords The first and second law of thermodynamics • Nanofluid flow • Porous rib • Microchannel heat sink • Singlephase approach • Two-phase approach Greek symbols Density (kg m −3) Viscosity (kg m −3 s −1) Volume fraction of nanoparticles Permeability of porous media (m 2) Porosity percentage of porous rib Scripts nf Nanofluid np Nanoparticle p Particle m Mixture dr Drift bf Base fluid