According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a system includes a heat-generating component and a thermal wake suppressor positioned downstream from the heat-generating component. The heat-generating component produces a thermal wake in a downstream direction. The thermal wake suppressor includes a spacing grid and a plurality of twist plates extending from the spacing grid at an angle. The spacing grid is defined by a plurality of longitudinal ribs and a plurality of transverse ribs that form a plurality of intersections. The plurality of twist plates is periodically arranged on the plurality of longitudinal ribs and the plurality of transverse ribs, such that a subset of the plurality of twist plates is arranged to break apart the thermal wake into sub-vortexes in the downstream direction.