Narrow channel heat sink with tapered fins

Abstract

A heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing the heat exchanger is disclosed for dissipating heat from a heat generating component. The heat exchanger comprises a thermally conductive base in thermal communication with the component, a plurality of thermally conductive plate fins affixed to the base wherein the plate fins define a fin field and channels, and fluid control for controlling the fluid flow within the fin field. The individual fins of the heat exchanger are tapered with the cross-sectional area of the individual fins decreasing from an inlet region of the heat exchanger toward a middle region of the heat exchanger. The tapering of the fins function to minimize formation of high pressure with the fin field. In an alternative embodiment, the heat exchanger may comprise an aperture for enhancing ventilation of fluid within the fin field, and thereby reducing formation of high pressure within the fin field. Alternatively or in conjunction with the above-outlined embodiments, the heat exchanger may comprise a fluid control feature for substantially preventing premature egress of fluid from a top region of the fin field caused by the high pressure region within the fin field.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for dissipating heat from a heat generating component, said heat exchanger comprising: 
 a thermally conductive base in thermal communication with said component;    a plurality of thermally conductive plate fins affixed to said base and being separated by channels;    said fins defining an open plate fin field having a top, a bottom, an inlet region, a middle region, and an outlet region;    wherein said plate fins being tapered for minimizing formation of high pressure within said fin field, such that the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the channels decreases from the inlet region to the middle region.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , further comprising ventilation of fluid within the fin field for reducing formation of high pressure within said fin field.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of    claim 2   , wherein said ventilation being in the form of a slot located substantially along said base.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said plate fin taper being concave in cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said cross sectional area of the fins decreasing from the inlet region to the outlet region.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , further comprising fluid control of fluid within the fin field in the form of surface anomalies on the surface of said plate fins, said anomalies disrupting the boundary layer along said plate fins causing a reduction in high pressure within said fin field.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , wherein said surface anomalies being textured surface regions.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , further comprising a flow guide traversing a top portion of said plate fins for imparting a downward force on the fluid within the fin field and preventing premature exiting of fluid from the top region of said fins.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of    claim 8   , wherein said flow guide being a horizontal bar.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of    claim 9   , wherein said plate fins comprising a horizontal extension protruding from the top region of each discrete plate fin, wherein alignment of the plate fins forming a horizontal bar.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of    claim 10   , wherein said bar is selected from the group consisting of a flat bar, a profiled bar, and a profiled bar having at least one point.  
     
     
         12 . A method of dissipating heat from a heat generating component, comprising the following steps: 
 affixing a heat sink apparatus adjacent to the heat generating component, wherein said heat sink comprising a plurality of thermally conductive plate fins affixed to a thermally conductive base, and said plate fins defining an open plate fin field having a top, a bottom, an inlet region, a middle region, and an outlet region; and    minimizing formation of high pressure within said fin field through a tapering of the cross-sectional area of said plate fins perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising reducing formation of high pressure within said fin field through ventilation.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13   , wherein said ventilation being a slot located substantially along said base.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising decreasing the cross-sectional area of the fins from the inlet region to the outlet region.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15   , wherein said tapering of the cross-sectional fin area reducing friction on fluid moving through said fin field and decreasing stagnation of said fluid.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising tapering the cross-sectional area of the fins in a concave shape perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17   , wherein said tapering of the cross-sectional fin area reducing drag on fluid entering the inlet region and increasing friction on fluid entering from the outlet region.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising controlling premature exiting of fluid from a top portion of said fin field through a flow guide.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 19   , wherein said flow guide being a horizontal bar traversing the top portion of the fin field and imparting a downward force on the fluid within the fin field.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 12   , further comprising disrupting formation of a boundary layer along the plate fins and reducing high pressure within said fin field through formation of surface anomalies on a surface of said plate fins.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 21   , wherein said surface anomalies being textured surface regions.