Reevaluation of Plate-Fin Heatsink Natural Convection Correlations for Sideways and Three-Dimensional Inclinations

Abstract

The common orientations of the plate-fin heat sink for natural convection cooling of electronics are vertical and upward-facing horizontal. However, depending on various use scenarios, the heat sink may be inclined, intentionally or otherwise. In our previous papers concerning this subject, the author proposed a set of correlations for plate-fin heat sinks covering all inclination angles backward and forward (pitch rotation) from the vertical position of the heat sink. The set was based on a series of computational simulations with a validated model. At the time, tilting the heat sink sideways (roll rotation) was not considered. In the present study, though, the sideways inclination of the plate-fin heat sinks is simulated using our previous model only by adjusting the direction of the gravitational acceleration vector, thus requiring no additional validation. It is determined that the previously proposed correlation is valid up to 80° sideways inclinations of the heat sink. Interesting flow structures are observed when the heat sink is tilted 90° sideways. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the correlation surprisingly remains valid if the heat sink is simultaneously rotated in both axes (pitch and roll).