Heat exchanger design methodology for electronic heat sinks

Abstract

This paper discusses the "Inlet Temperature Difference" (ITD) based heat-exchanger (and its variants) design methodology frequently used by designers of electronic heat sinks. The methodology is at variance with the accepted methodology recommended in standard heat-transfer text books- the "Log-Mean Temperature Difference" (LMTD), or the equivalent "effectiveness-NTU" design method. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and discuss the ITD based design methodology and its deficiencies. The paper shows that the ITD based method is an approximation at best. Variants of the method can lead to either under or over prediction of the heat transfer rate. Its shortcomings are evaluated, and it is recommended that designers of electronic cooling equipment use the well established and accepted LMTD or ε-NTU design methodology.