thanks for your posts guys btw...
hmm, i had a look at the calculator...
keeping my fins the same width, and number, while adjusting the space between them, and obviously the total width of the "heatsink" i found that the bigger the space between the fins, the greater the heat transfer number became.
the calculator suggests infinite space between the fins is the way to go...
(while keeping the number of fins the same, and accomodating width of heatsink)
i dont really know what the problem is, because i dont understand how its calculating the optimum spacing... but i know this: the formula is calculating fin spacing (and count) based on a fixed width heatsink... in my problem the heatsink can be as wide as i want, and i can practically fit in about 8 fins. so its not suitable.
to blab a bit more...:
if the calculator is applied to my problem, the conclusion you would draw from its results dont make sense, because when you have vertical plates in close proximity, you create convection currents, as air touches some hot metal, it gets hotter, and starts rising, now when you have conductors in close proximity, the rising hot air, gets hotter as it continues to move past the hot metal, so its speed increases as it rises, it also pushes other air creating a nice current...
well, thats the way i understand it...
erm...
i think this calculator is more relevant to my problem.
it gives me hope that what i want to do will work.
http://www.coolingzone.com/Content/D...ot/vp-isot.htm
( i basically just looked at their default values and results to use as a guideline)
ive built a convection test radiator before... it was a piece of crap(it JUST did the job), but its given me some experience, so now ive got an idea of what to expect.
the size of my plates aka flat boxes is known, the unknown is the optimum spacing, which i'll find out with experimentation after i build it *g*