HEAT-SINK SELECTION 2

Welcome to this second lecture heat sink selection. In this lecture we will look at the thermal
resistance of the heat sinks themselves.

It should be noted that Heat sinks available in the market do not come with single specified
value of thermal resistance. This is because there is no single value of thermal resistance for
them (See Figure below)

The thermal resistance changes with heat dissipation level and ambient conditions (such as
air speeds). Even if the manufacturer does specify values, they are just for guidance and
have been calculated at a particular set of conditions. Most manufacturers provide values
tested at 40 °C.

Therefore “charts” or “thermal curves” are normally provided when you purchase a heat sink
from which thermal resistance can be worked out for different conditions.

Often a single chart is given by the manufacturers with two curves. From one curve, the
thermal resistance values in cases of natural / free convection can be evaluated. From the
other curve the values thermal resistance for forced convection or fan based can be
evaluated.

Please note that heat sinks with cooling fans are often sold as combined units termed HSF
in the market.

Here is a chart for a heat sink with the two curves. The curve from top right to the bottom left
is the natural convection curve. that used if the heat sink is used without a fan.

The other curve running from top left to bottom right is the forced convection curve. So for
the first curve we read the values on the left vertical axis and bottom horizontal axis. For the
 second curve we read
the right hand vertical
axis and the top
horizontal. What axis
are to be read is also
pointed out by the
arrows on the curves.

So let’s assume that

the chart is
representative of the
heat sink that we have
purchased. We aim to
install it on a power transistor and we want to install the heat sink without a fan (i.e. Natural
convection). Let’s assume the power transistor dissipates 4 Watts of heat. Now because it
is natural convection, we read the axis on the bottom and left and only look at the first curve.
So at 4 watts the curve shows 70 °C rise above the ambient temperature. From this we can
calculate the Thermal resistance.

R = 70/4 = 17.5 °C/W. We can use this value to evaluate the junction temperature. You
have now learned how to calculate the thermal resistance values for heat sink in natural
convection.

Let’s look at another scenario; We now assume that we are using the heat sink with a fan
velocity of 400 feet per minute. In this case, we have to look at the second curve on the
chart. The axii that we should be looking at are the top one and the right one. From 400 fpm
(feet per minute) we get 7 °C/W.

So in the second case of forced convection, we just have to look up the intersection of the
fpm line with the curve and we get a value of thermal resistance from scale directly. No
calculation required.

If we compare the values we have calculated, we notice that thermal resistance value
through forced convection is very low compared to natural convection value. 7 °C/W as
compared to 17.5 °C/W. And this tells us clearly that forced convection is much more
effective in lowering the junction temperatures for the same amount of heat.

If a bespoke heat sink design is to be made than there are several online heat sink
calculators that can be used. Using the following link, one can calculate the thermal
resistance of their heat sinks.

http://www.myheatsinks.com/calculate/thermal-resistance-plate-fin/

This information allows us to evaluate the total heat loss. Once again it should be
remembered that the lower the thermal resistance of heat sink the better it is. This concludes
the second lecture on heat sink selection. We learnt in this lecture how to read value of heat
sink chart. I hope you will put this information into practice. Sample problem is given in
activity sheet.