Investigation on Performance Characteristics of Convergent Fin Heat Sink Under Forced Convection Using CFD

Majority of the existing studies and literature, in the field of Electronic cooling, primarily focus on increasing the surface area of the heat sinks to achieve better heat transfer rates. This study focuses on how to enhance the average surface heat transfer coefficient by converging the flow of fluid. Inspiration has been taken from the convergent nozzle. Fins on the heat sink are placed at various angles relative to each other. This is done in order to mimic the convergent behaviour under forced convection. Simulations are done for a number of test cases by varying the following parameters—Air velocity, Fin angle, and heat input. Analysis of the CFD results shows that the average heat transfer coefficient (HTC) for convergent angled fins is higher compared to straight fins by ~15%. Similarly, average surface heat flux is also higher when compared to straight fin heat sinks. Also, as a consequence of the fin orientation, almost 11% mass reduction is seen in the angled fin heat sinks. The flow profile in the wake of the convergent angled fins proved to be suitable for restricted ventilation spaces.