NATURAL-CONVECTION COOLING IN VERTICAL PINNED PLATES IN A CABINET FORCOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

A simulation model for natural convection was developed for determinin g the surface temperature distribution in base plates with rectangular vertical fins in communication equipment. An estimated velocity deriv ed from the buoyancy and pressure drop equations in a duct was used fo r laminar forced convection cooling simulations in parallel plates. Te mperature distributions in finned plates were calculated by numerical integration of the heat conduction equation. An experimental study was also performed, to check these simulation results. by changing the he ight of fins, the pitch of fins, and the heat generation conditions. E xperimental results and analytical results were found to agree well. A lso, this simulation method was extended to analyze natural convection cooling in vertical base plates with inclined parallel fins. We place d alternately on the plates the sections without fins and the sections with fins on the plates. Using the inclined fins, air flow rate betwe en fins was large and Fresh air flew into the fins from the side of th e plates. The natural convective heat-transfer rate for inclined fins was found to be 14% higher than that for vertical fins.