Active thermal spreader with solid coolant

Experimental and modeled thermal resistances are presented for a forced convection heat sink using a spreader plate containing a rotating disk immersed in oil. Heat from a 0.5 cm/sup 2/ source passes through a sliding oil contact into a copper rotor. Heat exits the rotor through a 60 cm/sup 2/ sliding oil contact into a standard forced air thin fin heat sink. The path of lowest thermal resistance is demonstrated to be conduction from a hot surface through the oil to the disk, and then from the disk through the oil to the fin array.