Optimized Internal Fin Structure for Heat Sink Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat sink designs for electronics cooling, such as straight fin structures and standard heat exchanger tube orientations, are inefficient in transferring heat due to their fixed geometries, which do not account for varying heat flux distributions and material properties, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
An optimized internal fin structure is designed for heat exchanging systems by analyzing exterior fluid flow, determining boundary conditions of heat flux distribution, and considering material properties, allowing for customized geometries that enhance heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional straight fin structures are used for heat sink interior fluid flow, then the design is simple and easy to manufacture, but heat transfer efficiency is poor due to fixed geometries that do not account for varying heat flux distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the internal fin structure geometry to match the specific heat flux distribution pattern of the electronic components. Different regions of the heat sink have differently configured fins - for example, regions with higher heat flux have fins with larger surface areas or different orientations compared to regions with lower heat flux. This localized customization optimizes heat transfer efficiency for each specific thermal load pattern while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design approaches.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard catalog tube geometries are used in heat exchangers, then the design is simplified and parts are readily available, but heat transfer effectiveness is reduced due to inability to optimize for specific heat flux distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by performing heat flux analysis on the exterior surfaces before designing the internal fin structure. The external heat flux distribution is calculated and used as input data to determine the optimal internal fin configuration. This preliminary thermal analysis allows the design process to be tailored to the specific application requirements, enabling optimization of heat transfer effectiveness while maintaining design adaptability through a systematic methodology.
3Productivity
If customized internal fin structures are designed based on heat flux analysis, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but design complexity and analysis requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the heat sink into multiple discrete fin structures, each optimized for its specific local heat flux conditions. The overall heat sink is segmented into regions based on thermal load patterns, with each region containing fins tailored to its particular requirements. This segmentation approach allows complex customized designs to be broken down into manageable modules, reducing overall design complexity while maintaining high heat transfer efficiency.
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
The optimized internal fin structure achieves similar device temperatures with reduced effort, offering improved performance by customizing internal channels based on exterior heat flux distributions, resulting in enhanced thermal-fluid performance and reduced pressure drops.
Implementation Method 1
The electronics on the outer surfaces of the heat sink impart a heat flux which is then transferred to the internal fin structure via conduction
Implementation Method 2
Heat is then removed from the system through internal fluid (e.g., air) flow over the fin structure
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanging system includes one or more heat exchanging portions, wherein each heat exchanging portion includes an optimized internal fin structure. The optimization of the optimized internal fin structure includes receiving existing heat exchanging system information, analyzing exterior fluid flow around the one or more heat exchanging portions as a heat flux analysis, determining boundary conditions of a heat flux distribution based on the heat flux analysis, receiving material properties of the one or more heat exchanging portions, and designing the optimized internal fin structure based on the existing heat exchanging system information, the boundary conditions of the heat flux distribution, and the material properties of the one or more heat exchanging portions.