A comparison of using icepak and flotherm in electronic cooling

Abstract

Simulation software is a good tool to reduce design cycles and prototypes. The accuracy of the results depend on the users' inputs. Software can provide very accurate results when the inputs are reliable. Software can provide very poor results if the model, boundary conditions, or solution parameters are not represented properly. The user, not the software, is responsible for the accuracy of the results. To adequately use software, the user must become familiar with the built in hnctions and their limits of applicability. You must have a complete understanding of thermal theory so you can judge when a calculated result is in error based on an error in your input. Both Flothenn and Icepak are popular thermal analysis computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software packages in electronic cooling. The scope of this comparison is not to be used by the reader as the only basis for selecting a CFD tool. The frst thermal study was conducted using Icepak and Flotherm to calculate heat transfer fiom an aluminum plate due to natural convection and forced convection (turbulent flow, 300 fpm) environment. Three different types of mesh sizes were compared to theory and experimental data. The second study was to simulate the thermal performance of a RF power amplifier in a steady state forced convection environment. Both Icepak and Flotherm can provide almost the same level of performance. The quality of the prediction depends on the users' background and experience.