Multi-objective optimization of electronics heat sinks cooled by natural convection

Fins and fin arrays with constant temperature at the fin base have known solutions for natural convection. However, in practical applications, no simple solution exists for maximum temperature of heat sink with many heat dissipating components located at the base plate. A calculation model is introduced here to solve this practical problem without time consuming CFD modelling of fluid flow and heat transfer. Solutions with the new model are compared with some simple analytical and CFD solutions to prove that the results are accurate enough for practical applications. Seminal here is that results are obtained many orders of magnitude faster than with CFD. This much shorter calculation time scale makes the model well suited for multi-objective optimization in, e.g., simultaneous minimization of heat sink maximum temperature, size, and mass. An optimization case is presented in which heat sink mass and size are significantly reduced over those of the original reference heat sink. (paper)