Numerical Computation About the Effect of Plate Fin Structural Factors on Heat Dissipation Performance of the Heat Sink

View at publisher
Authors: Rui Hong Xie, L. Li, Xijun Huang, Chuanpei Xu, Jiaxi Zhao, Ling‐Feng Mao
Cited by: 1
References: 31

Abstract

ABSTRACT With the continuous development of electronic devices toward miniaturization and high performance, the challenge of heat dissipation has emerged as an increasingly critical concern. This study aims to systematically explore the influence of fin geometric parameters of plate‐fin heat sinks on their heat dissipation performance through numerical simulation. In these simulation models, fin thickness (1.0–8.0 mm), inter‐fin spacing (1.2–5.5 mm), fin height (6–20 mm), and inlet air velocity (1–6 m/s) are selected as main optimization variables. A striking finding from these simulations is that when the fin height is increased from 6 to 20 mm, the maximum temperature of the heat sink experiences a substantial drop of 16.3°C. This clearly indicates that fin height holds the most significant impact over the heat dissipation performance of plate‐fin heat sinks. In contrast, inter‐fin spacing, inlet air velocity, and fin thickness have a relatively less pronounced effect. Based on the above findings, an optimal combination of structural parameters has been identified, which comprises a fin thickness of 1 mm, an inter‐fin spacing of 8.75 mm, an inlet air velocity of 6 m/s, and a fin height of 20 mm. When compared to all the tested models, this particular setup demonstrates the lowest temperature distribution. These research results clearly provide a solid theoretical basis for optimizing the design of the heat sink and improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Heat Transfer and Optimization Heat Transfer and Boiling Studies Fluid Dynamics and Thin Films

Publication details

Journal / source
Heat Transfer
Publisher
Wiley
Volume
55
Issue
3
Pages
1639–1651
Publication date
2 January 2026
Language
EN