Thermal clipping equipment using phase-change material

Abstract

Thermal Shrinkage Equipment Using Phase Change Material The equipment (10) comprises: - a main compartment (20) including at least one electronic system (22) capable of generating thermal energy; - a heat exchanger (40) in aerodynamic communication with the main compartment (20), capable of transferring the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system (22) outside the equipment (10); - an auxiliary compartment (60) in aerodynamic communication with the main compartment (20) and the heat exchanger (40) and including at least one thermal absorption block (72) comprising a phase change material and configured to absorb the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system (22). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Thermal clipping equipment using phase-change material

[0001] The present invention relates to equipment, in which in particular the thermal management of at least one electronic system is managed.

[0002] Such equipment is, for example, intended for use in a harsh environment, such as a desert environment, in which said equipment is subject to significant variations in external temperature and is liable to be subjected to intrusions of sand and dust.

[0003] High temperatures can lead to overheating of the equipment's electronic components. Overheating of the components reduces the mean time between failures (MTBF).

[0004] To overcome this drawback, it is known to ensure active cooling of electronic components, in particular by ventilation by bringing outside air into contact with said components or by air conditioning using a refrigerant.

[0005] However, these solutions lead to the intrusion of sand and dust, which also presents risks of damaging electronic components, or to overconsumption of energy.

[0006] There is therefore a need for equipment that allows improved cooling of electronic components while reducing the risk of equipment failure and reducing energy consumption.

[0007] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide equipment that increases the mean time between failures, in particular by enabling thermal stabilization of the electronics while preventing the intrusion of foreign bodies and reducing energy consumption.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to equipment comprising:

[0009] - a main compartment comprising at least one electronic system capable of generate thermal energy;

[0010] - a heat exchanger in aerodynamic communication with the compartment principal, capable of transferring the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system outside the equipment;

[0011] - an auxiliary compartment in air communication with the compartment main and the heat exchanger and comprising at least one thermal absorption block comprising a phase change material and configured to absorb the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system.

[0012] Thanks to the invention, thermal clipping of the electronic system is possible without requiring an outside air supply. Furthermore, the need for an air conditioner is eliminated, thus reducing the equipment's energy consumption.

[0013] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the equipment comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0014] - the equipment further includes at least one fan configured for circulate air between the main compartment, the heat exchanger and the auxiliary compartment;

[0015] - the main compartment, the heat exchanger and the auxiliary compartment form a hermetically sealed assembly with an IP65 protection rating according to IEC 60529;

[0016] - at least the auxiliary compartment is covered at least partially with a thermally insulating material whose thermal conductivity is between 0.025 W / mK and 0.05 W / mK;

[0017] - the auxiliary compartment extends along a longitudinal direction between a an inlet and an outlet, at least one thermal absorption block extending in an extension plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;

[0018] - the auxiliary compartment comprises a plurality of thermal absorption blocks arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction so as to form a zigzag air circulation passage between the inlet and outlet of the auxiliary compartment;

[0019] - the phase-change material has a melting temperature between 40°C and 50°C, preferably between 42°C and 46°C, in particular approximately equal to 44°C;

[0020] - the equipment further comprises at least one cooling module thermoelectric configured to cool at least one heat absorption block;

[0021] - at least one thermoelectric cooling module comprises a portion thermal energy absorption and a thermal energy release portion, the thermal energy absorption portion extending into at least one thermal energy absorption block and the thermal energy release portion extending outside the auxiliary compartment

[0022] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0023] [Fig.1] - [Fig.1] is a simplified schematic illustration of equipment according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a graph illustrating the evolution of the air temperature at the outlet of the heat exchanger of the equipment in [Fig.1] and the temperature of the air exiting the auxiliary compartment of the equipment in [Fig.l] when the equipment is subjected to an external temperature change according to the Al cycle defined by the STANAG 4370 standard, depending on the time of day.

[0025] With reference to [Fig.1], equipment 10 according to the invention is described.

[0026] Equipment 10 is specifically intended for use in harsh environments, such as a desert, and is particularly transportable.

[0027] The equipment 10 includes a main compartment 20, a heat exchanger 40 and an auxiliary compartment 60.

[0028] Advantageously, the main compartment 20, the heat exchanger 40 and the auxiliary compartment 60 form a hermetically sealed assembly, for example with a protection rating of IP65 according to IEC 60529. In other words, the main compartment 20, the heat exchanger 40 and the auxiliary compartment 60 form an assembly that is sealed against external solid and liquid bodies.

[0029] Even more advantageously, the equipment 10 further includes at least one fan 80.

[0030] Even more advantageously, the equipment 10 further comprises at least one thermoelectric cooling module 90.

[0031] The main compartment 20 includes at least one electronic system 22 capable of generating thermal energy.

[0032] For example, at least one electronic system 22 comprises at least one electronic component 24, such as, for example, switches, servers, routers, firewalls, power supplies (including uninterruptible power supplies). At least one electronic component 24 is, in particular, a standard computer product or a COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) computer product.

[0033] In the example of [Fig.1], at least one electronic system 22 comprises two electronic components 24.

[0034] The at least one electronic system 22 is in particular arranged in an enclosure 26 of the main compartment 20, delimiting a reception space 28 in which the at least one electronic system 22 extends.

[0035] The heat exchanger 40 is capable of transferring the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system 22 outside the equipment 10.

[0036] The heat exchanger 40 is in aerodynamic communication with the main compartment 20, in particular through at least one duct 42 of the equipment.

[0037] In particular, the heat exchanger 40 is delimited by an enclosure 44 delimiting an internal volume 46, said internal volume 46 being in fluidic communication with the receiving space 28 of the main compartment 20, in particular via the conduit 42.

[0038] The auxiliary compartment 60 is in aerodynamic communication with the main compartment 20, in particular via at least one duct 62 and the heat exchanger 40, in particular via at least one duct 64.

[0039] Advantageously, the auxiliary compartment 60 is delimited by an enclosure 65 delimiting an interior space 66.

[0040] Even more advantageously, the auxiliary compartment 60 extends along a longitudinal direction X between an inlet 68 and an outlet 70. In particular, the inlet 68 and the outlet 70 form an inlet 68 and an outlet 70 of the interior space 66.

[0041] At least the auxiliary compartment 60 is covered at least partially with a thermally insulating material having a thermal conductivity between 0.025 W / mK and 0.05 W / mK. For example, at least the auxiliary compartment 60 and the conduit 62 are covered with the thermally insulating material.

[0042] The auxiliary compartment 60 includes at least one thermal absorption block 72.

[0043] Advantageously, the auxiliary compartment 60 comprises a plurality of thermal absorption blocks 72. According to the specific example of [Fig.1], the auxiliary compartment 60 comprises three thermal absorption blocks 72 arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction X.

[0044] At least one thermal absorption block 72 is configured to absorb the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system 22.

[0045] At least one thermal absorption block 72 comprises a phase change material.

[0046] According to the specific example of [Fig.1], at least one thermal absorption block 72 extends in an extension plane PE substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

[0047] Advantageously, when the auxiliary compartment 60 comprises a plurality of thermal absorption blocks 72, the blocks 72 are arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction X, so as to form a baffled airflow passage between the inlet 68 and the outlet 70 of the auxiliary compartment 60.

[0048] For example, the phase-change material has a melting point between 40°C and 50°C, preferably between 42°C and 46°C, and in particular approximately 44°C. These characteristics allow compliance with the Al cycle of STANAG 4370 in the example of [Fig. 1]. According to other standards and / or other conditions (number of electronic components 24, for example), a person skilled in the art would be able to choose a phase-change material with a suitable melting point.

[0049] According to a specific example, the phase change material is RUBITHERM® RT44HC.

[0050] At least one fan 80 is configured to circulate air between the main compartment 20, the heat exchanger 40 and the auxiliary compartment 60.

[0051] In the specific example of [Fig.1], at least one fan 80 is arranged at the inlet of the duct 42.

[0052] At least one thermoelectric cooling module 90 is configured to cool at least one thermal absorption block 72.

[0053] Advantageously, when implemented, the at least one thermoelectric cooling module 90 comprises a thermal energy absorption portion 92 and a thermal energy release portion 94.

[0054] The thermal energy absorption portion 92 extends into at least one thermal absorption block 72 and the thermal energy release portion 94 extends outside the auxiliary compartment 60, in particular outside the enclosure 65 into the atmosphere surrounding the auxiliary compartment 60.

[0055] Fig. 2 illustrates the evolution of the temperature T40 of the air at the outlet of the heat exchanger 40 of the equipment 10 and of the temperature T60 of the air at the outlet of the auxiliary compartment 60 of the equipment 10 when the equipment 10 is subjected to an evolution of the outside temperature TE according to the cycle Al defined by the standard STANAG 4370 as a function of the hour H of the day.

[0056] In this example:

[0057] - the phase-change material has a melting temperature substantially equal at 43°C;

[0058] - at least one electronic system 22 has an emission power 180W thermal;

[0059] - the auxiliary compartment 60 contains 50 L of phase change material.

[0060] In [Fig.2], we observe:

[0061] - between 0 and 8 a.m., the temperature T40 of the air at the outlet of the heat exchanger 40 of equipment 10 is below the temperature T60 of the air at the outlet of auxiliary compartment 60 of equipment 10;

[0062] - between 9 a.m. and midnight, the temperature T40 of the air at the outlet of the heat exchanger 40 of equipment 10 is higher than the temperature T60 of the air at the outlet of auxiliary compartment 60 of equipment 10.

[0063] Fig. 2 therefore shows:

[0064] - between 0 and 8 a.m., a heating of the air circulating from the heat exchanger 40 towards the main compartment 20, which shows a release of thermal energy from at least one thermal absorption block 72, which corresponds to a solidification of the phase change material;

[0065] - between 9 a.m. and midnight, a cooling of the air circulating from the heat exchanger 40 towards the main compartment 20, which shows an absorption of thermal energy from at least one thermal absorption block 72, which corresponds to a melting of the phase change material.

[0066] Between 0 and 8 a.m., the outside temperature is below 35°C. The cooling requirements of at least one electronic system 22 are reduced, which allows the phase-change material to solidify, in order to prepare for the warmer period from 8 a.m. to midnight.

[0067] Between 8 a.m. and midnight, the outside temperature is between 35°C and 49°C. The cooling requirements of at least one electronic system 22 are then high, and the melting of the phase-change material allows it to absorb a portion of the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system 22.

[0068] Advantageously, the absorption / regeneration ratio is greater than 2.7. This ratio corresponds to the ratio of thermal energy absorbed during the day to the thermal energy released at night.

[0069] Thanks to the invention, thermal regulation of the electronic system 22 is possible while preventing the intrusion of foreign bodies into the equipment 10. Furthermore, the need for active cooling by air conditioning is eliminated, which considerably reduces the energy consumption of the equipment 10. Thus, the risks of failure due to overheating, as well as those related to the intrusion of foreign bodies such as sand and dust, are reduced. The mean time between failures is also reduced.

Claims

Demands

1. Equipment (10) comprising: - a main compartment (20) having at least one electronic system (22) capable of generating thermal energy; - a heat exchanger (40) in aerodynamic communication with the main compartment (20), capable of transferring the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system (22) outside the equipment (10); - an auxiliary compartment (60) in aerodynamic communication with the main compartment (20) and the heat exchanger (40) and having at least one thermal absorption block (72) comprising a phase-change material and configured to absorb the thermal energy generated by at least one electronic system (22).

2. Equipment (10) according to claim 1, wherein the equipment (10) further comprises at least one fan (80) configured to circulate air between the main compartment (20), the heat exchanger (40) and the auxiliary compartment (60).

3. Equipment (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main compartment (20), the heat exchanger (40) and the auxiliary compartment (60) form a hermetically sealed assembly with a protection rating of IP65 according to IEC 60529.

4. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the auxiliary compartment (60) is covered at least partially with a thermally insulating material having a thermal conductivity between 0.025 W / mK and 0.05 W / mK.

5. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the auxiliary compartment (60) extends along a longitudinal direction (X) between an inlet (68) and an outlet (70), at least one thermal absorption block (72) extending in an extension plane (PE) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X).

6. Equipment (10) according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary compartment (60) comprises a plurality of heat-absorbing blocks (72) arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction (X) so as to form an air circulation passage in chicanes between the entrance (68) and the exit (70) of the auxiliary compartment (60).

7. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the phase-change material has a melting temperature between 40°C and 50°C, preferably between 42°C and 46°C, in particular substantially equal to 44°C.

8. Equipment (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the equipment (10) further comprises at least one thermoelectric cooling module (90) configured to cool at least one thermal absorption block (72).

9. Equipment (10) according to claim 8, wherein at least one thermoelectric cooling module (90) comprises a thermal energy absorption portion (92) and a thermal energy release portion (94), the thermal energy absorption portion (92) extending into at least one thermal absorption block (72) and the thermal energy release portion (94) extending outside the auxiliary compartment (60).