Air Guide Shroud Isolation Channel Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling arrangements with air guide elements and fans fail to effectively isolate cooling air streams between different components, leading to heat transfer issues and reduced efficiency due to leaks between the air guide element and system board, which affects the cooling performance of components like processors and power supply units.
Innovation Solution
The cooling arrangement incorporates an internal isolation channel within the air guide element to divide the cooling air stream into separate paths for different components, preventing cross-flow and heat transfer between them, and includes a third air stream to actively cool the air guide element, with a narrowing channel width to increase air pressure and suppress leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If an air guide element is used to guide cooling air streams, then the cooling air stream reaches components in a targeted manner, but heat transfer from heated exhaust air to cooling air occurs through the air guide element, reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide element is divided into multiple isolated channels (first channel, second channel, third channel) that are separated by isolation walls. This segmentation prevents heat transfer between adjacent air streams while maintaining targeted delivery of cooling air to different components.
Solution Approach 2:
Isolation walls act as intermediary barriers between the first channel carrying heated exhaust air and the second channel carrying cooling air. These walls prevent direct thermal coupling between the channels, blocking heat transfer from the exhaust air to the cooling air.
2Quantity of substance
If cooling air streams are guided through an air guide element, then components are cooled in a targeted manner, but leaks between the air guide element and system board allow through-flow of air streams between regions
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide element is segmented into multiple independently sealed channels (first, second, and third channels) separated by isolation walls. Each channel can be independently sealed against the system board, preventing through-flow leakage between adjacent regions even if one seal is compromised.
Solution Approach 2:
Isolation walls serve as intermediary barriers that extend to the outer surfaces of the air guide element, creating sealed boundaries between channels. These walls prevent air leakage between adjacent channels at the interface with the system board.
3Temperature
If the air guide element is exposed to heated exhaust air, then the air guide element heats up, but this heat-up transfers heat to the cooling air for downstream components
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide element is segmented into thermally isolated channels where the first channel exposed to exhaust air is separated from the second channel carrying cooling air by an isolation wall. This segmentation creates thermal barriers that prevent heat conduction from the heated region to the cooling region.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation wall acts as a thermal intermediary that blocks heat conduction from the first channel (exposed to exhaust air) to the second channel (carrying cooling air). This intermediary barrier maintains thermal independence between adjacent channels.
4Stress or pressure
If the isolation channel width is increased, then the air pressure in the isolation channel decreases, but this increases through-flow of air streams through leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The width of the isolation channel is specifically designed and optimized to maintain sufficient air pressure. By controlling the geometric parameters of the isolation channel, the system achieves the necessary pressure to suppress through-flow at leaks while maintaining adequate isolation performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the targeted cooling of components by preventing heat transfer from heated exhaust air, maintaining efficient cooling performance and reducing the risk of heat-up in the air guide element, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
The air guide element comprises an internal isolation channel and is configured in such a way as to divide the cooling air stream into a first air stream through the first region and a second air stream through the second region. The isolation channel at least partially isolates the first air stream from the second air stream.
Implementation Method 2
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a width of the isolation channel decreases in the direction of the third air stream. An advantage of this configuration is that an air pressure in the isolation channel is increased. In this way, a through-flow of the first air stream into the second region, respective of the second air stream into the first region, in particular at leaks of the air guide element, for example, is additionally suppressed.
Implementation Method 3
In at least one embodiment of the invention, a third air stream runs through the isolation channel. An advantage of this configuration is that the third air stream actively cools the air guide element.
Implementation Method 4
An advantage of this configuration is that a heat-up of the air guide element through the heated exhaust air of the at least one first element to be cooled is at least partially prevented by the isolation channel. In this way, the heat of the heated exhaust air is not significantly transferred via the air guide element to the cooling air for the at least one second element to be cooled.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling arrangement, in particular for a computer system, including at least one fan for generating a cooling air stream. The cooling arrangement further includes at least one first element to be cooled arranged in a first region and at least one second element to be cooled arranged in a second region. Furthermore, the cooling arrangement includes an air guide element formed with an internal isolation channel. The air guide element is formed in such a way as to divide the cooling air stream into a first air stream through the first region and a second air stream through the second region and to at least partially isolate the first air stream from the second air stream by the air guide element.Furthermore, the invention relates to an air guide shroud which is suitable for such a cooling arrangement.