Design and simulation of heat sink for exhaust heat recovery system using thermoelectric generator

Abstract

Heat sinks are a classification of heat exchangers ideally utilised in electronics to cool them. They can be simply fabricated, have low cost and are reliable for heat dissipation purpose. The protruding surfaces from them are called fins. They can be flat-plate or pin shaped. The aim of the present study is to investigate the performance characteristics of a heat sink. The materials and the fin design will be used as two major factors to increase the heat dissipation from the test apparatus. The project will show a three-dimensional analysis, using COMSOL 5.3a, which will verify with accessible exploratory information in the existing data for a continued finned heat sink. It will also identify the heat dissipation and mean temperature distribution of the heat sink for natural convection. Before moving on to design and simulation of heat sink, the first aim was to construct and simulate a leg of a thermoelectric generator model for obtaining the optimum working region of the thermoelectric generator taking into consideration the properties such as temperature difference and heat transfer coefficient. Therefore, available research techniques are briefed upon which enhance the heat removal from heat sinks.