Enhancement of heat sink performance through undulated fins with lateral ribs, radiative nanofluid and uniform heat absorption via natural convection

Purpose One of the most significant fields of research that academics are constantly pursue on is the damage to electronic components caused by poor cooling processes using natural convection-based heat sinks. Researchers are always working to improve the effectiveness of heat sinks to resolve this problem to protect electronic equipment and avoid their destruction. The shape and configuration of heat sinks is regarded as one of the most critical variables influencing their efficiency. Furthermore, with advances in technology, the use of radiative nanoparticles with high thermal conductivity has become one of the approved solutions to this problem. The purpose of this study is to examine the enhancement of heat sink efficiency via natural convection within a rectangular enclosure outfitted with bottom undulated fins provided with lateral external ribs and filled with radiative (graphene-water) nanofluid. The heat sink enclosure contains a uniform heat source of absorption. The impact of buoyancy forces (Rayleigh number), strength of magnetic field (Hartmann number), thermal radiation of graphene nanoparticles (radiation parameter), uniform source of heat absorption (q*) and solid fraction of graphene nanoparticles (f) on thermal performance have been widely researched. Design/methodology/approach This research presents a computational investigation using COMSOL Multiphysics, which uses finite element method. Findings The outcomes illustrate that the employment of undulated instead of classic fins significantly enhances the convective flow within heat sink enclosure between by 39.56%. In addition, providing the undulated fins with laterally ribs significantly increases the convective flow between nanofluid and fins by 6.3%. The occurrence of nanofluid thermal radiation effect significantly encourages the convective heat flow within enclosure 36.48%. In the presence of uniform source of absorption, the convective heat flow within heat sink enclosure goes up 6.13%. A 3% graphene solid fraction produces the highest convective heat flow increase. Originality/value The current numerical research aims to improve heat sink efficiency based on natural convection used to cool electronic devices by adopting undulated rather than classic fins shape as a first step. In the second step, the external border of undulated fins is joined with lateral ribs, resulting in a new fins shape. The heat sink enclosure fitted undulated fins is filled with radiative (graphene-water) nanofluid and contains a uniform source of heat absorption. The performance of undulated fins provided with lateral ribs on heat sink efficiency has not been examined yet. Thus, this study aimed to appeal to a wide variety of readers by providing practical insights into optimizing heat sink effectiveness for better thermal management.