Contract Manufacturing


The heatsink buying guide: types and applications


CIE Magazine interviews Paul Bentley, managing director of GD Rectifiers, on the 10 simple steps to buying the right heatsink


G


D Rectifiers is a global manufacturer and distributor of products, services and solutions to commercial and industrial users of power electronic


components. The company specialise in supplying thousands of aluminium heatsinks to customers each year.


Many factors affect the thermal performance of a heatsink; discover the design elements you need to know before buying a heatsink with GD Rectifiers’ handy buying guide, designed to make a new industry purchaser’s job a little easier.


Consider the material you need Be sure to consider cost, availability and performance. You need a heatsink that will do the job so make sure you invest in a material that is suited to your end product.


Research the heatsink capabilities required for your project Ensure you are familiar with the end product specification and the performance required. Communicate the full specification to the heatsink engineer, it is important that they know what the heatsink is required to do so that they can suggest the best possible profile.


Choose the right fan for your product


The heatsink and fan are the most essential decision purchasers will make. The fan is incredibly important because it will quickly remove the heat that is generated by the power devices away from the heatsink. This element is vital because as the power device works, it generates a large amount of heat which needs to be removed from the device quickly otherwise it could overheat and destroy the power element. The fan’s performance is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM) which means


26 October 2022


that larger fans are usually more reliable when it comes to performance. Consider the noise of the fan: the noise output is measured in Sones which refers to how loud the fan is whilst in use. Noise output is an important factor which could affect the purchaser’s decision process.


Seek advice from experts to ensure you’re buying the right heatsink


Google several heatsink manufacturers and ask to speak to their technical team, discuss your requirements and ask them to provide profile recommendations for your application. Make sure you communicate the full product specification, end product and future applications it could be used in so that the engineer can advise you as best they can.


Check the heatsink drawings The drawings are important because they allow non-technical customers to envisage what the heatsink will look like and how it will function. Make sure the manufacturer sends you the drawings (if possible) so you can refer back to it as and when you need to.


Check the smoothness of the heatsink


Good heatsinks tend to have a machined base on the bottom, the flatter the base, the better it will be able to keep the power device cool. Potential damage could be caused to the product if a heatsink was to have a rough or uneven base which is why flat and smooth bases are desired to transfer the heat away from the power devices.


Check the heatsink’s thermal resistance


A heatsink’s thermal resistance can often Components in Electronics www.cieonline.co.uk


be the deciding factor for a purchaser. The thermal resistance of a heatsink indicates the heatsink’s ability to remove the heat. Purchasers work closely with engineers to establish the thermal resistance required for the end product. The purchasers then determine the desired thermal resistance for the product, the lower the rated thermal resistance number is, the faster the heat will be removed from the heatsink.


Typically, the heatsink’s job is to move heat from the device and in to the heatsink itself, which without a higher thermal resistance, cannot be done as quickly.


Determine the fan’s air flow This is another important factor to consider: the higher the airflow of the fan, the faster and better its performance will be at cooling the product down.


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