Round Pin Heatsinks


Passive LED heatsink assembly

Thanks to the innovative use of round pin heatsink technology, components manufacturers for a variety of applications are now able to efficiently deal with high level thermal requirements that previously posed quite a challenge. With integrated airflow enhancement technology, the round pin fin solution presents itself as an ideal option for many engineers today.

But what exactly is it that makes the round pin heatsink design such an effective cooling mechanism? The reality is that there are a number of features that operate in conjunction to bring this model to the forefront in heat dissipation. First of all, the cooling efficiency is generated largely due to the unique design by which the round pin spread facilitates the fanning out of the heatsink fins within given space environment. Functioning best in an unspecified, omni- or multidirectional ventilation environment, the round pin technology boasts dramatically increased cooling effects when compared with the normal flat fin heatsink design. Indeed, it has been proven to dissipate heat at much higher rates in low ventilation circumstances. While this special capacity is made possible in part by the round pin fin's exceptional ability to exploit the cooling effects of airflow from any direction, it is also due in part to the highly conductive materials that are used to optimize this heatsink for highly demanding thermal environments. Made out of either copper or aluminum, many round pin heatsink models are plated with darkly colored alloys to deliver the necessary protection for the less-than-ideal environments which these heatsinks may be subject to. Yet one of the best aspects of the round pinned heatsink is its overall ability to perform much better than the conventional straight pinned model in select environments.

In addition to the airflow direction, a couple of good measures to go by when considering the use of the round pin heatsink include the strength of the ventilation current and pressure drop concerns; if airflow is under 300lfm and pressure drop doesn't matter, then the round pin heatsink is a wise decision.