Simulation Heat Sink Rod Block

If you want to perform a thermal analysis of cooling a heat sink with rod block you can use the simulation software NOGRID points.

Computer-aided thermal analysis is already widely used today, allowing development cycles for heat dissipation and cooling concepts to be significantly shortened. In this study, the airflow cooling a metallic heat sink made of thin, round rods is simulated. The heat sink is modeled as a thermally conductive solid, enabling it to absorb and release heat. The airflow is a forced flow, such as that generated by fans. 

CFD methodology for heat sink rod block simulation

Based on the geometrical model which - either imported from your CAD system or created with our CAD preprocessor COMPASS - you can quickly generate a computational model of a specific geometry (compared to mesh-based methods) and see and evaluate its thermal characteristics in advance.

In this study, heat transfer within the solid is modeled solely by conduction, with ideal thermal contact assumed between the air and the solid. In the air, heat can be transferred by conduction and/or by heat radiation, and convection. Convection refers to heat transport caused by fluid motion. All types of heat transfer mechanisms can also be coupled in the simulation. 

In the example shown on the left, the heat sink is cooled by the surrounding air and is modeled as a homogeneous body with internal heat source terms. In the solid heat sink, only heat conduction is computed. Since a solid and a fluid are in contact and exchange heat in this case, the configuation is also referred to as a multi-phase flow.

NOGRID points is ideally suited for the design and analysis of heat transfer applications. It enables accurate prediction of The speed of the temperature front and the cooling/heating rate can be predicted. NOGRID points helps to understand the flow by visualization of the mass, momentum and heat transfer of single and multiple phases. You receive integral quantities which you can use to analyze the heat exchange efficiency.

Capabilities of NOGRID CFD software

NOGRID combines powerful capabilities for handling free-surface flows and moving parts within the computional domain and allows the simulation of any conceivable geometry and operating mode, such as

• computation is in full 3D solving complete Navier-Stokes-Equations
• easy and intuitive setup also for FSI (Fluid-Structure-Interaction) cases
• free definable material properties by equations or curves
• evaluation of chemical reactions and corresponding heat source terms
• open or closed domains including inflow and outflow areas (non-batch mode)
• moving of parts and flexible thermal contact behaviour