Cooling Fluid Filtration to Prevent Ice-Induced Static Charge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature systems face challenges in eliminating charge collection and voltage generation due to ice crystals formed in the fluid stream, which can damage electronic devices under test, especially in low-power devices sensitive to environmental factors like static charge and flow electrification.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a filter mesh with specific sizes to capture ice particles, ranging from 2 μm to 100 μm, made of stainless steel in a Dutch weave configuration, positioned between the chiller and the point of delivery, to prevent charge accumulation and electrostatic discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter mesh is added to capture ice particles, then charge collection and voltage generation are eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful ice particles from the fluid stream using a filter mesh. By taking out the problematic component (ice particles) that causes charge collection and voltage generation, the system achieves reliable operation without damaging electronic devices, while adding only a simple filtration element rather than a complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter mesh acts as an intermediary element between the chilled fluid source and the electronic devices. This intermediate component captures ice particles before they can reach and damage sensitive electronics, providing a simple buffer that eliminates the harmful effect without requiring complex control systems or modifications to the existing temperature control infrastructure.
2Reliability
If the filter mesh size is reduced to capture smaller ice particles, then charge generation is more effectively prevented, but fluid flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a filter mesh with specific, optimized pore sizes tailored to capture the particular size range of ice particles that cause charge generation in this application. Rather than using a uniformly fine filter that would restrict flow, the mesh size is locally optimized to capture harmful particles while maintaining adequate fluid flow, balancing filtration effectiveness with system 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
The filter effectively reduces electrostatic charge generation and prevents damaging voltages by capturing ice crystals and other particles that cause charge accumulation, ensuring safe temperature control for devices under test.
Implementation Method 1
A filter receives the chilled cooling fluid from the cooling device. The filter includes a filter mesh sized to capture ice particles in the chilled cooling fluid.
Implementation Method 2
a cooling device for chilling the cooling fluid supplied by the fluid source to generate a chilled fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature control system for controlling a temperature of a device under test includes a fluid source and a cooling device reducing a temperature of the fluid supplied by the fluid source and outputting the fluid having the reduced temperature to a device under test. A filter is positioned between the device under test and the cooling device to filter out ice particles that lead to significant charge generation in order to prevent the device under test from being subjected to high voltages as a result of static charge generation.