Segmented heat sink for natural-convection cooled systems

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a heat sink system. The heat sink system may include: a first heat sink segment including a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet having an outlet flow path; and a second heat sink segment including a second fluid inlet having an inlet flow path and a second fluid outlet. The second heat sink segment may be arranged in a placement position within the heat sink system so that the second fluid inlet receives fluid from substantially other sources than the first outlet flow path. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a heat sink segment. The heat sink segment may include: a base plate; a plurality of vertical fins; a horizontal wall; a first fluid opening; and a second fluid opening. The first fluid opening may face a different direction than the second fluid opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat sink system comprising:
 a first heat sink segment, the first heat sink segment comprising a first heat sink base, a first fluid inlet, and a first fluid outlet having an outlet flow path, the first heat sink segment being positioned in a first placement position within the heat sink system; and   a second heat sink segment, the second heat sink segment comprising a second heat sink base, a second fluid inlet having an inlet flow path, and a second fluid outlet, the second heat sink segment being positioned in a second placement position within the heat sink system based on the first placement position;   wherein the second placement position is arranged so that the second fluid inlet receives fluid from substantially other sources than the first outlet flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The heat sink system of  claim 1 , wherein the second placement position is arranged vertically above and adjacent to the first placement position. 
     
     
         3 . The heat sink system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid outlet is located on a first face of the heat sink system and the second fluid inlet is located on a second face of the heat sink system. 
     
     
         4 . The heat sink system of  claim 3 , wherein the outlet flow path is approximately perpendicular to the inlet flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The heat sink system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate comprising a first opening that at least partially defines the first fluid inlet and a second opening that at least partially defines the first fluid outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The heat sink of  claim 5 , wherein the cover plate comprises a vertical baffle located between the first fluid outlet and the second fluid inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The heat sink segment of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid outlet comprises a plurality of pins projecting outwardly from the first heat sink base. 
     
     
         8 . The heat sink system of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid inlet comprises a plurality of pins projecting outwardly from the second heat sink base. 
     
     
         9 . The heat sink system of  claim 1 , further comprising a horizontal wall separating the first heat sink segment and the second heat sink segment. 
     
     
         10 . The heat sink system of  claim 1 , wherein the first placement position overlaps the second placement position and at least one of the first heat sink segment and the second heat sink segment is oriented at an angle. 
     
     
         11 . The heat sink system of  claim 10 , wherein the first fluid outlet is above the second fluid inlet. 
     
     
         12 . The heat sink system of  claim 10 , wherein one of the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet is located at an end face of the first heat sink segment. 
     
     
         13 . A heat sink comprising:
 a base plate;   a first heat sink segment comprising: a first plurality of vertical fins extending outwardly from the base plate toward a front face, a first fluid inlet, and a first fluid outlet;   a second heat sink segment comprising: a second plurality of vertical fins extending outwardly from the base plate toward a front face, a second fluid inlet, and a second fluid outlet, the second heat sink segment located vertically above the first placement position; and   a cover at least partially enclosing the first plurality of vertical fins and the second plurality of vertical fins and defining the first fluid outlet and the second fluid inlet.   
     
     
         14 . The heat sink of  claim 13 , wherein one of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid inlet is located on a front face of the heat sink system, and the other of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid inlet is located on a side face of the heat sink system. 
     
     
         15 . The heat sink of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of pins extending outwardly from the base plate toward the front face. 
     
     
         16 . The heat sink of  claim 13 , further comprising a horizontal wall separating the first heat sink segment and the second heat sink segment. 
     
     
         17 . The heat sink of  claim 13 , wherein the cover comprises a vertical baffle between the first fluid outlet and the second fluid inlet. 
     
     
         18 . The heat sink of  claim 13  further comprising a duct adjacent one of the first fluid outlet and the second fluid inlet. 
     
     
         19 . A heat sink segment comprising:
 a base plate;   a plurality of vertical fins, each fin extending outward from the base plate toward an edge located at a front face of the heat sink segment;   a horizontal wall extending outward from the base plate at a first end of the plurality of vertical fins;   a first fluid opening located at the first end of the heat sink segment; and   a second fluid opening located at a second end of the heat sink segment,   wherein the first fluid opening faces a different direction than the second fluid opening.   
     
     
         20 . The heat sink segment of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a cover panel at least partially enclosing the plurality of vertical fins and defining the first fluid opening and the second fluid opening.   
     
     
         21 . The heat sink segment of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of spaced apart pins extending from the base plate toward the cover panel, wherein the cover panel defines openings on two side faces of the heat sink segment. 
     
     
         22 . The heat sink segment of  claim 20 , wherein the first fluid opening comprises a gap in the cover that exposes a portion of the vertical fins along the edges of the fins. 
     
     
         23 . The heat sink segment of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of curved fins extending from the base plate toward the cover panel, the curved fins extending from one of the first fluid opening and the second fluid opening toward the plurality of vertical fins. 
     
     
         24 . The heat sink segment of  claim 19 , wherein the first fluid opening is located on the front face of the of the heat sink segment and the second fluid opening is located on a face opposite the front face. 
     
     
         25 . The heat sink segment of  claim 19  further comprising a duct or plenum.