Performance evaluation of swaged- and extruded-type heat sinks used in inverter for solar power generation

In this study, we evaluated the heat release performance of two extruded-type and two swaged-type heat sinks used in an inverter for solar power generation. The number of fins and heat transfer areas of the two swaged-type heat sinks, namely S-62 and S-98, are 62 and 98 and 2.8 m² and 5.3 m², respectively. Those for the two extruded-type heat sinks, namely, E-38 and E-47, are 38 and 47 and 1.8 m² and 1.9 m², respectively. The heat release fractions of S-62 and S-98 were measured as 82.7 % and 86.3 %, respectively. Those of E-38 and E47 were measured to be 79.6 % and 81.6 %, respectively. In this experiment, despite the mass flow rates of air entering the heat sinks being almost the same, the heat release fractions increased with heat transfer area. Furthermore, despite S-62's heat transfer area being 47.4 % higher than that of E-47, its heat release fraction was higher by only 1.3 %. We believe that this indicates the better heat transfer property of the extruded-type heat sink. S-98's heat release is only 4.4 % higher than that of S-62, but its heat transfer area is 89.3 % higher; this suggests that its heat transfer area need to be optimized.