Server processor heat sink analysis and modifications to improve its thermal performance

Abstract

Heat generation in the electronic components of high-performance computing servers is a matter of concern. Heat generation adversely affects the performance of these servers, certain temperature limits are required for these server processors and other electronic components to work within suitable conditions. Furthermore, in order to improve CPU performance and functioning, the heat flux in today's processor packages is increasing day by day, even as server CPUs and other components shrink in size. The air-cooling technique is the most broadly utilized and efficient technique of the present accessible electronic cooling advances. In data centers, heat sinks with forced air are utilized to keep server processors and other electronic components cool. The cooling systems of electronic gadgets are a growing field of research. The aim of this work is to contribute to this research field by investigating the effects of inlet air properties on server processor heat sink thermal performance with a heat load of 140 W. The heat sink performance depends on various parameters. The influence of various geometries of lateral perforation on heat sink fin walls was numerically analysed in this study to improve the thermal performance of the server processor plate fin heat sink. The CFD Solver is used for analysing the performance of heat sink and the effect of lateral perforation shapes on heat sink fins. The three shapes of perforation are considered as square, circular, and hexagonal types, with the same cross-sectional area and pitch of inline arrangement. In comparison to plate fin heat sinks, the numerical results demonstrate that a laterally perforated finned heat sink has a lower base temperature and a low thermal resistance. The use of a perforated heat sink also saves material and reduces the weight of the heat sink.