Utilization of dead channel to improve temperature uniformity on thermal interface material

A heat exchanger, comprising:

• a first plate having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a second plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the first and second plates are joined together with the inner surface of the first plate and the inner surface of the second plate in opposed facing relation to one another, and with portions of the respective inner surfaces of the first and second plates being spaced apart from one another;
• a plurality of fluid flow passages adapted for flow of a heat transfer fluid, and located between the spaced apart portions of the inner surfaces of the first and second plates;
• a dividing rib which separates the heat exchanger into an inlet section and an outlet section, each of the inlet section and the outlet section including a plurality of the fluid flow passages;
• an inlet port located in the inlet section for supplying the heat transfer fluid to the plurality of fluid flow passages;
• and
• an outlet port in the outlet section for discharging the heat transfer fluid from the plurality of fluid flow passages;
• wherein both the inlet port and the outlet port are located proximate to a first end of the heat exchanger, on opposite sides of the dividing rib;
• wherein the portions of the inner surfaces of the first and second plates which are spaced apart from one another define a total heat transfer surface area of the heat exchanger, and wherein the total heat transfer surface area is a sum of a heat transfer surface area of the inlet section and a heat transfer surface area of the outlet section;
• and
• wherein the heat transfer surface area of the inlet section is less than the heat transfer surface area of the outlet section.