Heat sink with cross channel fluid communication

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 comprise apertures extending through the walls of the individual fins. The formation of the apertures within the individual plate fins provides communication of fluid across the channels 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, as well as formation of surface anomalies along the walls of the individual plate fin for disrupting formation of a boundary layer along the fins and minimizing stagnation of fluid flow within the fin field. Accordingly, the heat exchanger may be mounted to a heat dissipating device at a plurality of angles, as the formation of apertures in each of the individual plate fins guarantees cross communication of the fluid flow regardless of the angle at which the heat exchanger is mounted to the heat generating component.

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, an outlet region, an interior plate fin and a side plate fin;    wherein said interior plate fin and said side plate fin comprising an aperture for providing communication of fluid flow across said channels.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said aperture being a horizontal slot substantially contiguous with said base.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said aperture being a plurality of orifices randomly spaced about each individual plate fin.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of    claim 3   , wherein said aperture having a shape selected from the group consisting of a rectangular orifice, a triangular orifice, an oval orifice, a round orifice, and a circular orifice.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said aperture being a plurality of fin slits located substantially contiguous with said base.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said interior plate fin comprising a plurality of evenly spaced rectangular apertures.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , wherein said side fin comprising a horizontal aperture in the shape of a slot being substantially contiguous with said base.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , wherein said side plate fin comprising a plurality of evenly spaced rectangular apertures.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , wherein said rectangular apertures extending from an area substantially adjacent to said base to an area substantially adjacent to said top.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , comprising flow guides extending from said fins for causing fluid passing along the fin to be disturbed, thereby disrupting formation of a boundary layer and providing access to cooling fluid.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of    claim 10   , wherein said flow guide extending from said fin into said channel at a plurality of angles.  
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , wherein said interior plate fin being a pin fin having a shape selected from the group of a round fin, a semi-circular fin, a square fin, and a triangular fin.  
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of    claim 8   , wherein said side fin being a pin fin having a shape selected from the group of a round fin, a semi-circular fin, a square fin, and a triangular.  
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of    claim 6   , wherein spacing between adjacent fins being generous.  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , further comprising control of fluid within the fin field in the form of surface anomalies on the surface of said plate fins, said surface anomalies disrupting formation of a boundary layer along said plate fins creating a resistance and minimizing stagnation of fluid flow within said fin field.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of    claim 15   , wherein said surface anomalies being textured surface regions.  
     
     
         17 . 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.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of    claim 17   , wherein said flow guide being a horizontal bar.  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of    claim 18   , 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 said horizontal bar.  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of    claim 18   , 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.  
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of    claim 18   , wherein said bar covers a sufficient portion of said top to restrict ingress of fluid creating a near impingement condition.  
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein said heat exchanger being rotatably mountable at a plurality of angles relative to said component.  
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of    claim 1   , wherein a low pressure region about said fin field drawing fluid from within the fin field through said apertures and reducing formation of high pressure region about said fin field.  
     
     
         24 . 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, an outlet region, an interior plate fin, a side plate fin, and a channel between said interior fin and said side fin;    providing enhanced communication of fluid flow across said channel and minimizing formation of high pressure within said fin field through formation of an aperture in a wall of said interior plate fin and said side plate fin.    
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 24   , further comprising providing said interior plate fin and said side plate fin with a plurality of randomly spaced apertures about said fins.  
     
     
         26 . The method of    claim 25   , wherein said apertures having a shape selected from the group consisting of a rectangular orifice, a triangular orifice, an oval orifice, a round orifice, and a circular orifice.  
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 24   , further comprising rotatably mounting said heat sink at a plurality of angles relative to said component.  
     
     
         28 . The method of    claim 24   , further comprising controlling premature exiting of fluid from a top portion of said fin field through formation of a horizontal flow guide.  
     
     
         29 . The method of    claim 28   , 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.  
     
     
         30 . The method of    claim 24   , further comprising disrupting formation of a boundary layer along the plate fins and minimizing stagnation of fluid flow within said fin field through formation of surface anomalies on a surface of said plate fins.  
     
     
         31 . The method of    claim 30   , wherein said surface anomalies being textured surface regions.  
     
     
         32 . The method of    claim 24   , further comprising disrupting formation of a boundary layer about said fin field and providing access to cooling fluid through providing said interior fin and said side fin with a plurality of evenly spaced rectangular apertures.  
     
     
         33 . The method of    claim 32   , further comprising disturbing fluid passing along said fins through formation of a flow guide adjacent to said apertures.  
     
     
         34 . The method of    claim 33   , wherein said flow guide extending from said fins into said channel at a plurality of angles.