Using heatsinks in Celsius: Part 1

This 3-part series discusses various options in the Celsius thermal solver for heatsinks.

A heatsink is a passive heat exchanger that transfers heat to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is dissipated away from the device, thereby allowing regulation of temperature. Heatsinks play an essential role in the thermal management of electronics. Heatsinks increase the surface area for convection and radiation, which improves the dissipation of heat into the environment.

The performance of heatsinks depends on several factors. Significant factors that can help improve the heatsink performance are material properties, surface properties, and even manufacturing processes. Another important factor is the thermal interface material, which is an additional layer of material introduced between the component and the heatsink.

In the Celsius thermal solver, the following steps can be followed to add a heatsink to your design:

1. Choose Parts > Define External Heatsink. The Heatsink window displays.

2. Select the type of heatsink you want to add to your design from the Heatsink Type Four heatsink types are available:

            a. Fin: It has thin strips of metal connected to a base that helps spread the heat over a large surface area.

            b. Plate: It comprises a base that absorbs heat and dissipates it into the surrounding.

            c. Finger: It comprises fingers attached to a base.

            d. Pin: It has cylindrical pins extending from the base.

3. Click OK.

More details on each type of heatsink will be covered in the next part of the series. You will also learn how to add an external heatsink to the design.

Team SimTech 

Cadence Design Systems