Investigation of Heat Transfer Enhancement in Air Cooled Computer Processor Heat Sink

Abstract

Every computer consists of a CPU and many other electronic components. Heat is by-product of CPU operation due to resistance offered by electronic circuits to electric current. As processors are getting smaller and faster day by day, this leads to higher heat density and increased heat dissipation, making processor temperature rise. This causes reduced processing speed, shortened life, malfunction or in some cases failure and thermal shutdown of processor. In this study, forced air cooling system consisting of heat sink and fan, mounted on processor is investigated. The heat removed in forced air cooling mainly depends on area of heat sink and convective heat transfer coefficient. In this study an attempt is made to increase convective heat transfer coefficient. The effect of various air inlet locations and air velocities on convective heat transfer coefficient and processor temperature is analysed numerically. There is close agreement between numerical and experimental results. It is found that, there is 3.4 times increase in average convective heat transfer coefficient, 31% reduction in thermal resistance of air cooling system and 14% reduction in maximum temperature of heat sink.