NAVIER-STOKES STUDY OF NATURAL-CONVECTION AND HEAT-TRANSFER IN VERTICAL SYMMETRICALLY HEATED PLATE-FIN HEAT SINKS

A numerical study was performed on buoyant flow and heat transfer in v ertical plate-fin heat sinks. As a result of the problem's importance, a number of semiempirical correlations have been proposed to determin e the Nusselt number along the wetted surfaces and establish the optim um fin spacing. This article aim to assess the accuracy and range of a pplicability of such correlations. A CFD program Coolit(TM), specifica lly designed for modeling electronic equipment, was used to predict he at transfer over a wide range of Raleigh numbers and geometrical param eters. The computed results are presented and compared with semiempiri cal correlations. Ranges of validity of the correlations and three-dim ensional flow mechanisms responsible for the observed discrepancies ar e discussed.