How to Calculate a Heat Sink

A heat sink conductive device helps keep microelectronic power devices at a temperature below the specified maximum operating temperature. For a typical silicon semiconductor device in your computer, a 10 percent rise in the temperature corresponds to a 50 percent failure rate. High temperatures for long periods of time can destroy a device irreversibly. The failure of your computer can cost you money and time to fix it or purchase a new computer. Choosing a heat sink for a power device requires that you calculate its thermal resistance, measured in degrees Celsius per watt (°C/W). Heat sink is necessary in integrated circuit world where power dissipation has increased to 4 watts.

Things You'll Need

  • Manufacturer device information
  • Calculator
  • User defined parameters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Obtain the proper information to make the calculation. Whether you are using data from homework or from experiment, use the thermal resistance equation. Thermal resistance equals temperature difference along a heat flow path divided by the power dissipated along that path in degree Celsius per watt (°C/W). You, therefore, need to know temperature of heat sink (Ts), temperature of ambient (Ta), air within enclosed natural convection environment, and power dissipated (P) in watts along the path of heat flow.

    • 2

      Convert the quantities to correct units. The unit of thermal resistance is degree Celsius per watt (°C/W). You will need to have "Ta" in degree Celsius (°C), "Ts" in degree Celsius (°C) and "P" in watts (W).

    • 3

      Perform the calculation. Subtract the value for "Ta" in degree Celsius (°C) from the value for "Ts" to obtain a single value for "delta T" in degree Celsius (°C). Divide the value for "delta T" in degree Celsius (°C) by the value for "P" in watt (W) to obtain a single value for heat sink thermal resistance in degree Celsius per watt (°C/W).

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