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Some embodiments of a method, apparatus and computer system are described for vortex generator enhanced cooling. The computer system may include a housing and an apparatus. The apparatus may include one or more vortex generators coupled to a heat spreader and positioned in close proximity to an elec

Some embodiments of a method, apparatus and computer system are described for vortex generator enhanced cooling. The computer system may include a housing and an apparatus. The apparatus may include one or more vortex generators coupled to a heat spreader and positioned in close proximity to an electronic component, and a flow of air to provide for an exchange of thermal energy, where the flow of air is provided by a configuration of the housing, and where the one or more vortex generators may promote turbulence to enhance the exchange of thermal energy of the electronic component. In some embodiments, an air mover may be used to increase the flow of air in the housing. Other embodiments are described.

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1. An apparatus comprising: one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators with a base arranged on a surface of an electronic component and an opposing tip angled away from the electronic component to create a triangular ramp surface, the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators

1. An apparatus comprising: one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators with a base arranged on a surface of an electronic component and an opposing tip angled away from the electronic component to create a triangular ramp surface, the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators arranged to define an open space between the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators and the surface of the electronic component on which the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators are mounted; andan air mover operative to provide a flow of air over the triangular ramp surface of the one or more fixed vortex generators, the one or more fixed vortex generators arranged to promote turbulence in the flow of air via the formation of small eddies that are shed in a wake of the flow of air as it passes over the fixed vortex generators to enhance the exchange of thermal energy of the electronic component. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air mover includes a coaxial fan, an axial fan, a piezoelectric fan, or a membrane fan. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising one or more air intakes. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more vortex generators is shaped substantially as delta wings, posts, fences, slats, sawtooths, ellipses, or crescents. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more vortex generators are integrated with a heat spreader. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more vortex generators are integrated with the electronic component. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic component includes a memory, a hard drive, a network card, a video graphics card, a motherboard, a display, or a heat source. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile computer, a desktop computer, a server computer, or a handheld computer. 9. A computer system comprising: a housing;one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators with a base arranged on a surface of an electronic component and an opposing tip angled away from the electronic component to create a triangular ramp surface, the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators arranged to define an open space between the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators and the surface of the electronic component on which the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators are mounted; andan air mover operative to provide a flow of air over the triangular ramp surface of the one or more fixed vortex generators, the one or more fixed vortex generators arranged to promote turbulence in the flow of air via the formation of small eddies that are shed in a wake of the flow of air as it passes over the fixed vortex generators to enhance the exchange of thermal energy of the electronic component. 10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the air mover includes a coaxial fan, an axial fan, a piezoelectric fan, or a membrane fan. 11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the housing includes one or more air intakes. 12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more vortex generators is shaped substantially as delta wings, posts, fences, slats, sawtooths, ellipses, or crescents. 13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more vortex generators are integrated with a heat spreader. 14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more vortex generators are integrated with the electronic component. 15. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the electronic component includes a memory, a hard drive, a network card, a video graphics card, a motherboard, a display, or a heat source. 16. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the housing is configured as a mobile computer, a desktop computer, a server computer, or a handheld computer. 17. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more vortex generators is integrated into the housing. 18. A method comprising: arranging one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators in proximity with an electronic component with a base of the vortex generators arranged on a surface of the electronic component and an opposing tip angled away from the electronic component to create a triangular ramp surface, the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators arranged to define an open space between the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators and the surface of the electronic device on which the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators are mounted; andarranging an air mover in proximity to the vortex generators and the electronic component, the air mover operative to provide a flow of air over the triangular ramp surface of the one or more fixed vortex generators, the one or more fixed vortex generators arranged to promote turbulence in the flow of air via the formation of small eddies that are shed in a wake of the flow of air as it passes over the fixed vortex generators to enhance the transfer of heat. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: operating the electronic component. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the air mover includes a coaxial fan, an axial fan, a piezoelectric fan, or a membrane fan. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic component includes a central processing unit, a processor, a memory, a hard drive, a network card, a video graphics card, a motherboard, a display, or a heat source. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the one or more vortex generators is shaped substantially as a delta wings, posts, fences, slats, sawtooths, ellipses, or crescents. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators arranged on an interior side of a housing of the apparatus arranged to support the electronic component. 24. The computer system of claim 9, the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators arranged on an interior side of the housing. 25. The method of claim 18, comprising: Arranging the one or more fixed triangular shaped vortex generators arranged on an interior side of a housing arranged to support the electronic component.