Hydrothermal performance enhancement of heat sink using low flow-drag twisted blade-like fins

To prevent power equipment from breaking down due to overheating, an innovative design of twisted blade-like fins for heat sinks is proposed to enhance heat transfer efficiency and minimize pressure drop. The effects of the twist angle and different NACA airfoil cross-section of fins on the flow and heat transfer characteristics are investigated using numerical simulation methods over a Reynolds number range of 8548 to 34194. Comparing the twisted blade-like fins with cylindrical fins, the relative Nusselt number is 1.067–1.397, the relative friction coefficient is 0.528–1.339, and the hydrothermal performance factor (HTPF) is 1.155–1.552. The results demonstrate that the novel twisted blade-like fins substantially outperform cylindrical fins in terms of comprehensive thermal performance. Furthermore, the optimal design in the study is compared with the best design in similar studies, and the results show that the optimal twisted blade-like fins exhibit better advantages in drag reduction performance and HTPF. When Reynolds number is 34194, the twisted blade-like fins provide the highest HTPF of 1.552. The twisted blade-like fins stimulate spanwise and normalwise secondary flow, promoting fluid exchange between the wall and the channel core, thereby enhancing the heat transfer performance of the heat sink. Increasing the twist angle will improve heat transfer efficiency but increase pressure drop. Different cross-section shape can have different effects, and using NACA0009 airfoil cross-section yields better results in most cases. The twisted blade-like fins are effective in the field of heat transfer enhancement with low flow resistance of streamlined structure and strong heat transfer effect of secondary flow, greatly improving the comprehensive thermal performance of the heat sink.