Enhancement of convective cooling using oscillating fins

Tailoring the local flow field around a fin can substantially enhance the forced convection heat transfer from a conventional heat sink. A fin is set into oscillation leading to rupture of the thermal boundary layer developed on either side of the fin. This enhancement in heat transfer is demonstrated through an increase in the time-averaged Nusselt Number (Nu) on the fin surfaces. Nu has been found to be strongly dependent on the flow Reynolds Number (Re), the frequency and amplitude of the fin oscillations. A threshold amplitude and frequency is identified beyond which Nu improvements are observed for fixed Re.