Experimental investigation of thermal resistance of a heat sink with hexagonal fins

In the present work, the effects of the heights, widths of the hexagonal fins, streamwise and spanwise distances between fins and flow velocity on thermal resistance and pressure drop characteristics were investigated using Taguchi experimental design method. Also the temperature distribution within the selected pin fins was determined. Thermal resistance and dimensionless pressure drop were considered as performance statistics. L-18(2(1) * 3(7)) orthogonal array was selected as an experimental plan for the five parameters mentioned above. While the optimum parameters were determined, due to the goals (above aims) more than one being, the trade-off among goals was considered. First of all, each goal was optimized, separately. Then, all the goals were optimized together, considering the priority of the goals, and the optimum results were found to be fin width of 14 mm, fin height of 150 mm, spanwise distance between fins of 20 mm, streamwise distance between fins of 10 mm and flow velocity of 4 m/s. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.