Non-Straight Heat Sink Fins for Immersion Cooling Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat sinks with straight fins limit the flow of cooling fluid, leading to inefficiencies and potential blockage when multiple sinks are combined, which can waste cooling capacity and increase energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The use of heat sinks with non-straight fins that redirect the flow of cooling fluid in various directions, allowing for more efficient thermal energy collection and distribution, using materials like copper or aluminum alloys, and configurations such as divergent, convergent, or curved fin sections to guide the fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional heat sinks with straight fins are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cooling fluid flow is limited and may be blocked when multiple sinks are combined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved fin geometries instead of straight fins to redirect cooling fluid flow in multiple directions. The curved fins create non-linear flow paths that reduce turbulence and prevent blockage when multiple heat sinks are combined, thereby improving cooling efficiency while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard fabrication processes
2Device complexity
If conventional heat sinks with straight fins are used, then the structure is simple, but the cooling capacity is wasted due to fluid flow limitations
Solution Approach 1:
Curved fin designs are implemented to optimize cooling fluid distribution and reduce energy waste. The curved geometry directs fluid flow more effectively across multiple heat sink surfaces, maximizing cooling capacity utilization without requiring complex additional components or systems
3Device complexity
If conventional heat sinks with straight fins are used, then the design is simple, but fluid turbulence and obstruction increase when multiple sinks are combined
Solution Approach 1:
The curved fin geometry is specifically designed to reduce fluid turbulence and obstruction effects when multiple heat sinks are positioned in arrays. The non-linear flow paths created by curved fins allow cooling fluid to move more smoothly between and around multiple sinks, reducing harmful turbulence and obstruction without requiring complex spacing or arrangement designs
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances cooling efficiency by reducing fluid turbulence and obstruction, allowing for better thermal energy transfer and potentially lower energy consumption in cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
a base comprising a thermal transfer surface configured to be placed in thermal contact with the heat-generating component
Implementation Method 2
a cooling fluid (e.g. ambient air) flows between fins of the heat sink to collect thermal energy from the heat sink
Implementation Method 3
at least one fin of the plurality of fins having non-straight longitudinal edges extending along the external surface and defining at least in part at least one non-straight fin passage
Data Source
AI summary
A heat sink for collecting thermal energy from a heat generating component. The heat sink comprises a base comprising a thermal transfer surface configured to be placed in thermal contact with the heat-generating component, an external surface opposite from the thermal transfer surface and an inlet side of the base extending between an edge of the thermal transfer surface and an edge of the external surface and a plurality of fins extending from the external surface. The fins define a plurality of fin passages therebetween, at least one fin of the plurality of fins having non-straight longitudinal edges extending along the external surface and defining at least in part at least one non-straight fin passage.