Heat Sink Characteristics

Heat Sink Fundamental

Any electronics design engineer sooner or later will face problems related to the heat that is produced in semiconductor devices. When a junction temperature of a semiconductor rises above its maximum allowable temperature, there is a need to dissipate this temperature or else the device will breakdown. One of the common method used to dissipate the heat is using a heatsink. Heatsink is made of metal which is used to contact the hot surface of the electronic component.

It usually consists of a flat base with an array of comb or fin protrusions which increase the surface area of its contact with the air. The greater the surface area, the better it is able to dissipate the heat generated. The cooling methods used could be natural air convection, forced air convection or forced liquid convection. Force air convection is usually done by using a fan to aid the cooling process. Most of power electronics devices such as IGBT, Triac, power transistors, voltage regulators will require a heat sink. Other devices that need heatsink as a source of thermal transfer are the microprocessors used in the computers and digital signal processors. A thermally conductive grease compound is usually used between the surface of the heat sink and the electronic device to ensure good thermal contact.

HeatSink Material

Heat sink material is usually made of aluminium, cooper or a combination of aluminium and cooper. Aluminium is light and has a typical thermal conductivity of 200W/mK. Cooper has a thermal conductivity twice that of Aluminium and the typical value is 400W/mK. This make cooper a better choice for use as heat sink. However, due to its weight, higher price and higher production cost, the Aluminium is a preferred choice. Aluminium is light, soft, and the production cost is lower as it can be extruded easily.

The Aluminium is made harder by the treatment of almite processing (Anodizing). The surface of it can also by dye with colors such as black, silver or gold. Anodize will help to produce a layer of insulating coating that helps to prevent corrosion.

Heatsink Characteristics

How does one design or choose a good heat sink? The typical characteristics are as listed below.

Heat dissipation is proportional to the surface area of its fins. Hence, it should be designed to have large surface.
Heat dissipation is proportional to the temperature difference between the heat sink and the ambient temperature.
Flat surface contact with the heat source is critical as it allows the use of a layer of thermal compound to reduce the thermal resistance between the two devices.
Forced convection by fan increases the cooling performance by more than 2 times compared to the natural convection. The design of the heat sink must allow for the air to easily flow through the fins.
The way the mounting is done is critical. Mounting using screws are better than using clips, sticky tape or glue.

Example Of Heatsink Calculation

Heatsink performance is measured in degree C/W and is called thermal resistance. If a thermal load of 50W is applied to a heatsink which causes the temperature of the heat source to rise by 20 degree Celcius, the heatsink has a rating of 20/50 degree C/W = 0.25 C/W

Example of a calculation.

Find the maximum operating temperature of a power transistor if the maximum junction temperature Tj= 150 Celcius, thermal resistance between junction and case RJC = 1.5 C/W, Power consumption P = 6W, thermal resistance between heat sink and the ambient RHA = 8.0 C/W, Mica insulation RCF = 1.0 C/W.

The maximum ambient temperature that this transistor can operate is:

TA = Tj - (RJC + RCF + RHA)P

= 150C - (1.5 + 1.0 + 8.0)6 Celcius

= 150C - 63C

= 87 Celcius

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