FLOW DIVERTERS TO ENHANCE HEAT SINK PERFORMANCE
A heat sink includes a base and fins attached to the base. A flow diverter is in contact with the base or at least one of the fins and is configured to disturb a laminar flow region of a fluid flowing adjacent to at least one of the fins or the base.
1 . A heat sink comprising:
a base;
fins attached to said base; and
a flow diverter in contact with said base or at least one of said fins and configured to disturb a laminar flow region of a fluid flowing adjacent to at least one of said fins or said base.
2 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is configured to divert said fluid from a greater distance above a surface of said heat sink to a lesser distance above said surface.
3 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said heat sink is in thermal contact with a device configured to dissipate heat, and said flow diverter is configured to direct said fluid from a region of relatively lower power dissipation by said device to a region of relatively greater power dissipation by said device.
4 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter comprises a duct between two of said fins.
5 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is configured to produce unsteady flow in said fluid.
6 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is located on said base between two of said fins.
7 . The heat sink as recited in claim 6 , wherein a height of said flow diverter is less than a height of said fins.
8 . The heat sink as recited in claim 6 , wherein said flow diverter has a streamlined profile.
9 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is attached to said base or said fin and positioned upstream of said fin and outside a space bounded by said fins.
10 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is a monolithic feature of said heat sink.
11 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an opening in said surface, wherein said flow diverter is configured to direct said fluid through said opening.
12 . The heat sink as recited in claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is an active element.
13 . A method, comprising:
providing a heat sink having a base and fins attached thereto;
placing a flow diverter in contact with said fin or said base; and
configuring said flow diverter to disturb a laminar flow region of a fluid flowing adjacent to at least one of said fins or said base.
14 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said flow diverter is configured to divert said fluid from a greater distance above said base to a lesser distance above said base.
15 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising placing said heat sink in thermal contact with a device configured to dissipate heat, wherein said flow diverter is configured to divert said fluid from a region of relatively lower power dissipation by said device to a region of relatively greater power dissipation by said device
16 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising configuring a duct between two of said fins to divert said fluid.
17 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising configuring said flow diverter to produce unsteady flow in said fluid.
18 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising locating said flow diverter on said base between said fins and configuring said flow diverter to have a height less than a height of fins.
19 . The method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising forming said flow diverter, said base and said fins as a monolithic structure.
20 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said flow diverter is an active element.
21 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said fluid is air.