Flow diverters to enhance heat sink performance

Abstract

A heat sink includes a base and fins attached to the base. A flow diverter is in contact with the base or at least one of the fins and is configured to disturb a laminar flow region of a fluid flowing adjacent to at least one of the fins or the base.

1 . A heat sink comprising:
 a base;   fins attached to said base; and   a flow diverter in contact with said base or at least one of said fins and configured to disturb a laminar flow region of a fluid flowing adjacent to at least one of said fins or said base.   
   
   
       2 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is configured to divert said fluid from a greater distance above a surface of said heat sink to a lesser distance above said surface. 
   
   
       3 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said heat sink is in thermal contact with a device configured to dissipate heat, and said flow diverter is configured to direct said fluid from a region of relatively lower power dissipation by said device to a region of relatively greater power dissipation by said device. 
   
   
       4 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter comprises a duct between two of said fins. 
   
   
       5 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is configured to produce unsteady flow in said fluid. 
   
   
       6 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is located on said base between two of said fins. 
   
   
       7 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 6 , wherein a height of said flow diverter is less than a height of said fins. 
   
   
       8 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said flow diverter has a streamlined profile. 
   
   
       9 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is attached to said base or said fin and positioned upstream of said fin and outside a space bounded by said fins. 
   
   
       10 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is a monolithic feature of said heat sink. 
   
   
       11 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an opening in said surface, wherein said flow diverter is configured to direct said fluid through said opening. 
   
   
       12 . The heat sink as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flow diverter is an active element. 
   
   
       13 . A method, comprising:
 providing a heat sink having a base and fins attached thereto;   placing a flow diverter in contact with said fin or said base; and   configuring said flow diverter to disturb a laminar flow region of a fluid flowing adjacent to at least one of said fins or said base.   
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said flow diverter is configured to divert said fluid from a greater distance above said base to a lesser distance above said base. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising placing said heat sink in thermal contact with a device configured to dissipate heat, wherein said flow diverter is configured to divert said fluid from a region of relatively lower power dissipation by said device to a region of relatively greater power dissipation by said device 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising configuring a duct between two of said fins to divert said fluid. 
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising configuring said flow diverter to produce unsteady flow in said fluid. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising locating said flow diverter on said base between said fins and configuring said flow diverter to have a height less than a height of fins. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising forming said flow diverter, said base and said fins as a monolithic structure. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said flow diverter is an active element. 
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said fluid is air.