Velocity distribution has a very important influence on the performance of microchannel devices. In this paper, a cutting microchannel plate was proposed, and the velocity distribution was investigated based on the resistance network method. The results showed that the asymmetric cutting microchannel plate had the most uniform velocity distribution. Finally, the optimal results were further confirmed via ANSYS Fluent simulation and the heat and mass transfer efficiencies were also investigated. Taken together, the present findings provide direct evidence that uniform velocity distribution results in the higher performance of microchannel devices. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.