In this paper the natural convection heat transfer performance of horizontal heat sink was studied by numerical simulation and experiment. The numerical simulation results show that there are some interesting features in the flow field of heat sink model. 1) Among the fins, the air vertically flows only through the fins in the symmetry center of heat sink while it horizontally flows through the fins in other area. 2) There is an air stagnation zone located at the fin root in the symmetry center of heat sink. These features both caused the decrease in heat transfer temperature difference and heat transfer area in fact. The natural convection heat transfer performance of heat sink is affected at last. In order to eliminate the air stagnation zone and change in the flow way of air, some holes were perforated at the fin root. These holes play its role. In this test, the heat transfer power of heat sink with seven holes has increased by 16.7% compared with the prototype.With the increase in the number of holes, the natural convection heat transfer power of heat sink also increases. But when the number of holes reaches to a value, the increase in the number of holes will not function properly.
Natural convection heat transfer of a straight-fin heat sink
