Liquid-Cooled Hydrofoil Fin Heat Sinks for Electric Vehicle Inverters

Abstract

Efficient heat dissipation plays a crucial role for the reliable operation of power inverters in electric vehicles. This study focuses on investigating the thermal performances of liquid-cooled hydrofoil heat sinks. For the investigation, rigorous numerical analysis was performed to determine the Nusselt numbers and thermal resistances of hydrofoil heat sinks with various staggered arrangements for two different heights. Additionally, a comparison between hydrofoil fin and traditional pin fin heat sinks is made to explore their difference. The numerical study provides insights into the heat dissipation capabilities of hydrofoil heat sinks and their impact on power inverter performance. By analyzing the thermal characteristics of hydrofoil heat sinks through numerical study, it was found that the thermal performance is better at a proper clearance between the upper channel surface and hydrofoil fins than the case with no clearance. Additionally, the study demonstrated that the configurations of the hydrofoil fin array, including transverse and longitudinal spacing, exert a greater influence on thermal performance compared to the flow rate. Particularly noteworthy, the results indicated that hydrofoil fin heat sinks exhibit lower thermal resistance than pin fin heat sinks, especially at low fluid velocities. These findings suggest the potential of hydrofoil fin heat sinks to enhance heat transfer performance in power inverters, underscoring their significance in power inverter cooling systems. The outcomes of this study may facilitate advancements in power inverter cooling technology, aiming to enhance overall performance and extend the lifespan of power inverters in electric vehicles. This research contributes to the progression of electric vehicle technology by offering insights into the benefits of utilizing hydrofoil heat sinks to improve heat transfer and minimize thermal resistance.