Conjugate heat transfer analysis for the passive enhancement of electroniccooling through geometric modification in a mixed convection domain

A two-dimensional model has been developed for numerical prediction of visc ous laminar flow, mixed convection, and conjugate heat transfer between par allel plates with uniform block heat sources and with openings on the integ rated circuit board. A control volume pressure-based finite difference nume rical scheme, PISO, is used to solve this problem. The differential pressur e below and above the openings of the board induces upward streams, which b reak the stagnant region between the blocks and, consequently, enhance the heat dissipation. Geometrically, parametric study has indicated that an ope ning at the appropriate location makes a flatter temperature distribution a nd a lower peak temperature. Because of the existence of both natural conve ction and opening-induced passive flow streams, the resulting flow field de pends on the inlet conditions and the magnitude of the heat source. The enh ancement of heal transfer is reflected by a global increase of Nusselt numb er on the blocks, and is especially apparent on the wind sides of the openi ngs.