DIMENSIONING AND ANALYSIS OF HEAT EXCHANGE

SYSTEM BY TRIANGULAR PROFILES FOR ELECTRONIC

COMPONENT COOLING

Ferreira, Lucas Fernando de Almeida Afonso, lucas_fernando.18@hotmail.com¹

Benízio, Ellvys Zaqueu Nunes, ellvyszaqueu@hotmail.com¹
Araujo, Vitor Fellipe Macedo de, vitoraraujoifpe@gmail.com¹
Silva, Felipe Vilar da, felipe.vilar@caruaru.ifpe.edu.br¹
1
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciencia e Tecnologia de Pernambuco – IFPE, Estr. do Alto do Moura, s/n
– Alto do Moura, Caruaru – PE, 55040-120.

Abstract: A process of material selection, dimensioning and analysis of triangular fins from a
problem of overheating of an electronic component, present in a network of servers of a
business building, in order to efficiently dissipate the heat generated in the component, leading
to Efficiency and effectiveness of the final system.

Keywords: dimensioning, fins, materials, triangular fin, cooling, heat sink.

1. INTRODUÇÃO

The heating of certain components in a system is, in fact, a factor that calls attention to any system to
be designed. It was observed that increasing the area of a contact surface with the fluid flowing therein
would result in a greater heat transfer with the environment. In view of this, we have observed the use of
extended surfaces, called fins, which, obviously, must be made of highly conductive materials to obtain
satisfactory results.

A major challenge can be seen in the high heating of electronic components. Although some are
characterized by a high melting temperature of their material, high temperatures will entail serious
internal problems of system operation. High temperatures are highly detrimental to these components and
this fact presents a great challenge which will be studied in this work.

The increase in temperature in electronic components can be explained by the joule effect, also
known as thermal effect. This effect is caused by the passage of the electric current in a conductor,
causing the increase of temperature, which consequently releases heat. This effect is often used favorably
for various applications, such as: irons, heaters, electric welders, lighting and the like. However, in large
part of electrical energy applications, this heat production from the joule effect corresponds to losses and,
in some situations, can cause damages to the system. To this there is a need for a detailed study for the
heat dissipation of electronic materials.

The correct choice of material to be used, as well as the precise dimensioning of its geometry are of
paramount importance for the best final efficiency result of the fin. From results obtained in several
studies, it was observed that fins with triangular and parabolic profiles contain less material and are more
efficient than rectangular profile fins, being the most suitable for applications requiring the lowest
possible weight, as in electronic components .

2. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS

2.1 ESCOLHA DO MATERIAL

From the efficiency theory of the triangular fin, which varies according to the dimensionless
parameter ξ given by
 √
3
2∙ h
ξ=L 2 ∙ ( ) Eq. 01
k ∙ L∙ t

Graph 1

Efficiency of triangular, parabolic and rectangular profile flaps as a function of parameter ξ

Onde

 L = Flap length
 T = Fin thickness
 H = Coefficient of convection
 K = Thermal conductivity of the material

According to graph 1, the lower the value of the parameter ξ, the greater the efficiency presented
by the fin. Also, for triangular fin efficiencies greater than 90%, ξ must have values lower than 0.5.

The influence of the conductivity of the material on the value resulting from the parameter ξ is
remarkable, they are more precisely inversely proportional, so it is recommended to seek among the
available materials the most heat conductor, taking into account also the price available in the
market.

Elaborating a matrix of choice, with the materials of better conductivity and more easily found in
the region we have:

MATERIAL PRICE (R$) W

CONDUCTIVITY( )
m∙ k

COPPER 13,00 401

ALUMINIUM 4,00 237

 IRON 0,20 80,2

Table 1

Materials, prices and thermal conductivity

Graph 2

Thermal conductivity of materials as a function of temperature

Aluminum as can be seen in table 1, has a very reasonable conductivity and very affordable
price, compared to the other components, its conductivity has curve similar to copper in relation to
the working temperature besides the advantage of its low melting point, which provides Easier to
 manufacture by casting.

Graph 3

Behavior of the dimensionless parameter ξ as a function of the coefficient of thermal

conductivity from the fixation of the other variables.

The graph X shows the decreasing response of the parameter due to the increase in conductivity,
which implies that the higher the conductivity of the material, the greater the efficiency of the fin in
question.

2.2 ESCOLHA DO COEFICIENTE DE TROCA POR CONVECÇÃO

Another parameter that is necessary to define is the convection heat exchange coefficient, in the
equation listed as h, in figure 2, we have a list of the main coefficients used

Table 2

Convection exchange coefficients

 Graph 4

Behavior of the dimensionless parameter ξ as a function of the coefficient of exchange by

convection from the fixation of the other variables.

The graph X shows the increasing response of the dimensionless parameter ξ as a function of the
increase of the coefficient h, which implies that with the increase of h, corresponds to a reduction of
the efficiency of the fin in question.

The coefficient used will be the gas free convection, using an average value of 13.5, due to the
characteristic of the air exposure component without the use of fans (forced convection). Thus, the
equation takes the following form:

√
3
2 2∙ 13,5
ξ=L ∙ ( ) Eq. 02
237 ∙ L∙ t
2.3 ANÁLISE GRÁFICA

Plotting the function ξ as a function of the two available variables L and t, it is possible to arrive
at the graph
3:

Graph 5

Parameter dimensionless ξ (blue) as a function of the length of the fin (red) and the
thickness (green)

For demarcation of the possible combinations of L and t resulting in efficiency of 0.9 or ξ

equivalent to about 0.5 a plane is applied at position 0.5 parallel to the plane L x t:

Graph 6

Application of the plane to obtain the two-dimensional curve of combinations of L x t (in

black)

Graph 7
 Application of the plane to obtain the two-dimensional curve of combinations of L x t (in
black)

Graph 8

Two-dimensional curve (in black) of combinations of L x t for efficiency of 90%

From this it is possible to analyze various possible combinations of L x t for an efficiency of

90% depending on the transfer requirement required in the application.

3. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO

3.1 CALOR TRANSFERIDO PELA ALETA

By choosing the appropriate length and thickness combination from the chart, it is possible to
start the analysis of heat transferred by the fin using the following arrangement:

Q=η∙ Qideal Eq. 03

Q=η∙ h ∙ A aleta ∙θ base Eq. 04

√
2 t
Q=η∙ h ∙ 2∙ w ∙ L +( )² ∙ θbase
2
Eq. 05
At where:

Q = Heat transferred by the fin in W

Η = fin efficiency

W = Flap width

L = Flap length

T = Fin thickness

H = Coefficient of exchange for convection

θbase = Temperature difference between the base of the fin and the medium
For the suggested problem, we have the equation 05 having in substitution the given values:

√ ()
2
t 2
Q=0,9∙ 13,5 ∙2 ∙ 0,8∙ L + ∙ 100 Eq. 06
2
Assuming a base temperature gradient of 100 °C.

  From the sets L x t that satisfy the chosen efficiency (0.9), it is possible to obtain several values of Q,
where one must look for the one that best satisfies the project in question.

3.2 EFICÁCIA

The efficacy of the fin will be given by the division of the heat dissipated by the fin (Eq. 05) by
the heat theoretically dissipated by the area occupied by the fin base t ∙ w:

√ ()
2
t
0,9∙ 13,5 ∙2 ∙ w ∙ L2 + ∙100
2 Eq. 07
ε=
13,5 ∙ t ∙ w ∙ 100

√ ()
2
t
0,9∙ 2 ∙ L2 +
2 Eq. 08
ε=
t
For overall efficiency, multiply the numerator by the number of fins used together with the
multiplication of the denominator by that same amount, which would result in the same unit efficiency
measure if the whole space is quadrilateral and totally filled by fins, if the second condition does not
happen , Equation 07 takes the following form:

√ ()
2
2 t
N ∙0,9 ∙ 13,5∙ 2 ∙ w ∙ L + ∙100
2 Eq. 09
ε g=
13,5∙ A t ∙ 100
Being:

At = Total surface area (assuming absence of fins)

N = Number of fins

4. CONCLUSÃO
 From the establishment of fixed procedures it was possible to obtain a system of triangular fin
design based primarily on the efficiency provided by the system with the demonstration of the behaviors
provided by the variation of each design variable, to assist in the choice of the designer in a possible
development of exchanger of heat.

5. REFERÊNCIAS

[1] https://www.litorallimpo.com.br/precos/ (acesso em dezembro de 2016)

[2] http://images.slideplayer.com.br/2/374951/slides/slide_22.jpg (acesso em dezembro de 2016)

[3] ÇENGEL, Y. A., TRANSFERÊNCIA DE CALOR E MASSA, 4º Edição, AMGH Editora Ltda.

6. RESPONSABILIDADE AUTORAL

Os autores são os únicos responsáveis pelo conteúdo deste trabalho.