Lämpösirottimiin

Lämpösirottimiin refers to heat sinks in Finnish. A heat sink is a passive heat exchanger that cools a device by dissipating heat into the surrounding medium. Typically, the surrounding medium is air, but it can also be water or other fluids. Heat sinks are used to lower the temperature of components of electronic devices, such as CPUs, GPUs, and power transistors, and thus prevent overheating.

The effectiveness of a heat sink is determined by its ability to transfer heat from the component to the surrounding medium. This is achieved through conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat sinks are usually made of materials with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum or copper. The design of a heat sink is critical for its performance. Common designs include fins, which increase the surface area for heat dissipation, and heat pipes, which efficiently transfer heat away from the source.

The size and shape of a heat sink depend on the amount of heat it needs to dissipate and the available space. For high-power devices, larger and more complex heat sinks are required. In some applications, active cooling methods, such as fans, are used in conjunction with heat sinks to enhance heat dissipation. These combined systems are often referred to as forced-air cooling. Heat sinks are essential components in a wide range of electronic devices, from personal computers to industrial machinery, ensuring their reliable operation and longevity.