Numerical Simulation and Thermographic Examination of the Heat Transfer in a Radiator

Investigations of the heat transfer by conduction and natural convection in a radiator used in electronic equipment were carried out. On the basis of a physical model, 3-D geometrical model of the radiator was developed in COMSOL Multiphysics software. Using the finite-element method, numerical simulations were performed to determine temperature distribution at the radiator surface. In order to validate the numerical model of the heat transfer, an experimental setup comprising an electric heating coil, radiator and thermovision camera FLIR SC7600 was assembled. By varying the voltage, the heat flow supplied by the heating coil was varied. The steady-state temperature distributions at the radiator surface were recorded using the thermovision camera, and parameters of the convective flow field in the surrounding air were measured by anemometry. Positive results of the validation of the numerical model indicate that thermovision is a suitable experimental tool for this kind of application. Numerical simulation combined with thermographic techniques can be conveniently used in developing new radiator designs.