heatsink
A heatsink is a passive device attached to a component to dissipate heat to surrounding air, increasing surface area and relying on convection. It has no moving parts.
Design aims: maximize thermal conductivity from the component to the heatsink, maximize surface area, minimize weight
Types and forms: extruded aluminum fin blocks, pin-fin arrays, folded or honeycomb fins, and integrated heatsinks
Performance: key metric is thermal resistance (degrees Celsius per watt). Efficiency depends on the interface to
Applications: used in CPUs, GPUs, power electronics, LEDs, automotive electronics, and industrial equipment. Most consumer devices
Maintenance and considerations: ensure clean airflow; dust removal; reapply TIM if service is required; verify mounting
Trends: ongoing improvements in fin geometry, composite materials, heat pipes, and active cooling integration; high-power systems