High performance fan tail heat exchanger

• US 6,308,771 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1998
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Tavassoli, Bahman
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANIGAN, ALLEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/181,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.3, 165/165, 257/719, 257/722, 361/704, 361/710
• US Class Current: 165/80.3
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2215/10 Secondary fins, e.g. projections or recesses on main fins
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/02 Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations F28F3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/3672 Foil-like cooling fins or heat sinks being part of lead-frames H01L23/49568
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/467 by flowing gases, e.g. air H01L23/473 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A novel plate fin heat exchanger adapted for high and low velocity fluid flows for dissipating heat from a heat generating component. The heat exchanger comprises an array of fins being affixed to and in thermal communication with a thermally conductive base, wherein the fins are arranged in a fan tail configuration for minimizing flow bypass, and further providing reduced thermal resistance for fluid passing through the fin field. The fins are affixed to and in thermal communication with the base at an acute angle, such that the effective width of the array of fins exceeds the width of the base. The enlarged effective width of the fin array in comparison to conventional heat exchanger provides an increased volume for fluid flow, thereby allowing a greater volume of fluid to enter the fin field and a greater surface area of plate fins for cooling the fluid passing through the heat exchanger. In addition, the heat exchanger comprises a fin density of at least ten fins per inch or greater of base length thereby providing a narrow channel heat exchanger with a fan tail. The aspect ratio of the individual channels between the fins, as compared to parallel fins affixed perpendicular to the base through an extrusion method, generates a reduced pressure drop across the heat exchanger. Accordingly, the heat exchanger of the present invention expands the envelope of cooling performance provided by fluid flow over an array of thermally conductive plates.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a thermally conductive base in thermal communication with a component, said base providing a substantially planar region;

a plurality of thermally conductive plate fins affixed to said base with substantially uniform spacing between adjacent fins across said base;

said fins define a fin field with a top region and a bottom region;

said bottom region of said fin field is adjacent to said base;

said top region of said fin field having a width greater than said bottom region of said fin field;

said plate fins having a uniform cross-sectional area extending from the base to the top region; and

said top region of said fin field comprises a flat planar surface parallel to the base such that each fin in the fin field extends from the base to the top region.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein said fin field has a density range from about 10 fins per inch to about 60 fins per inch.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the width of the fin field has a range from about 45 mm to about 64 mm.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the length of the fins range from about 15 mm to about 19.3 mm.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the angle of the fins to the base range from about 51 degrees to about 90 degrees.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein said fins further comprise an aperture along a common portion such that the apertures form a secondary channel perpendicular to the channels of the fin field.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein a set of end fins have a thickness between 0.4 mm and 1.0 mm.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprises a straight angle where said fins meet said base.

9. A heat exchanger comprising:

a thermally conductive base in thermal communication with said component, said base providing a substantially planar region;

a plurality of thermally conductive plate fins affixed to said base in a spaced relationship with substantially uniform spacing between adjacent fins across said base;

each of said fins having a top and a bottom;

said bottom of said fins is affixed to said base at a straight angle;

said fins define a fin field with a top region and a bottom region;

a width of the fin field adjacent to the top region is greater than a width of the fin field adjacent to the base;

said plate fins having a uniform cross-sectional area extending from the base to the top region; and

said top region of said fin field having a flat planar surface area parallel to the base such that all of said fins in the fin field extend from the base to the top region.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein said fin field has a density range from about 10 fins per inch to about 60 fins per inch.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the width of the fin field has a range from about 45 mm to about 64 mm.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the length of the fins range from about 15 mm to about 19.3 mm.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the angle of the fins to the base range from about 51 degrees to about 90 degrees.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein said fins further comprise an aperture along a common portion such that the apertures form a secondary channel perpendicular to the channels of the tin field.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein a set of end fins have a thickness between 0.4 mm and 1.0 mm.