CFD modeling of the cooling performance of PIN FIN heat sinks under bypass flow conditions

摘要

Three-dimensional CFD models of circular pin fin heat sinks in bypass flow have been developed. The numerical models have been validated against experimental data presented earlier by the authors. A parametric study has been performed where the inlet velocity, the fin height, the fin-to-fin distance and the pin orientation was varied. For all cases, the duct flow area was held constant. The flow was turbulent, the Reynolds number varied between 6 100 and 15 300. For turbulence modeling the Chen-Kim k-e model was used. Results are presented for the heat transfer coefficient, and the pressure drop, as well as the influence of flow bypass, and the leakage from the interfin region to the bypass regions of the domain. The inlet velocity, the fin height, and the fin-to-fin distance all showed a strong influence on the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop.