Enhancing Thermal Performance of Pin-Fin Heat Sinks Through Slot Orientation Modifications

In this study, the influence of slot placement variations on heat transfer and fluid flow in a pin-fin heat sink was analyzed. Four different configurations were created by considering circular fins whose number and position were kept constant: solid flat (Base Config), flow-parallel slotted (Config A), 45° inclined slotted to the flow direction (Config B), and mixed (cross) slotted with 45° angles to the right and left (Config C). The analyses were carried out using the three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach with Ansys Fluent software; the realizable [Formula: see text] model was preferred for turbulence modeling. The analyses were repeated for all configurations according to four different Reynolds numbers calculated at 4, 8, 10, and [Formula: see text] air flow rates; the boundary conditions were determined as constant heat flux, no-slip condition, conjugate heat transfer, and adiabatic outer walls. In the study, the Nusselt number, surface friction coefficient, temperature values, pressure drop, and performance evaluation criterion (PEC) were analyzed. The results show that increasing fluid contact by opening slots and increasing turbulence by giving an angle according to the flow direction increase thermal performance. While Config A stands out with a PEC number of 1.45 compared to Base Config at the lowest air flow rate, Config C was obtained as the most effective pin-fin configuration with a PEC number of 1.38 at the highest air flow rate.