Electronic Display Cooling Module Crossflow Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale electronic displays face challenges with condensation issues due to temperature and humidity changes, particularly during startup, which can lead to condensation on sensitive electronics and metalwork, causing short circuits and corrosion, and existing cooling systems often create hot and cold spots that exacerbate these problems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a crossflow heat-exchanger system within the display's housing, with internal and external coolant loops that exchange heat without direct contact, and a control system that manages fan speeds and airflow to minimize temperature differentials and prevent condensation, using sensors and a CAN bus network for efficient thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat-exchanger is incorporated into the cooling system to prevent overheating, then cooling performance is improved, but condensation problems worsen due to cold spots forming on the heat-exchanger surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-exchanger is divided into multiple segments or zones with independent temperature control. This allows different portions of the heat-exchanger to operate at different temperatures, preventing uniform cold spots that cause condensation while maintaining effective cooling in high-heat areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameters of the heat-exchanger surfaces are dynamically adjusted based on ambient conditions and operational state. By changing the temperature parameters of different heat-exchanger zones independently, the system maintains cooling effectiveness while preventing surfaces from dropping below dew point where condensation occurs.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the display housing has high thermal mass to withstand environmental conditions, then structural stability is improved, but condensation risk increases during temperature changes particularly at startup
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are activated before the display is fully assembled or before startup occurs. This preliminary heating action ensures that the high thermal mass housing and internal components reach temperatures above dew point before ambient moisture can condense on cold surfaces during temperature transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system operates continuously or in periodic cycles to maintain temperatures above condensation thresholds. This continuous thermal action counteracts the natural cooling tendency of high thermal mass structures during ambient temperature drops, particularly during startup conditions.
3Temperature
If traditional cooling systems are used to manage heat, then overheating is prevented, but hot and cold spots are created that exacerbate condensation problems
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the display housing are equipped with localized heating and cooling elements that can be independently controlled. This allows temperature to be optimized locally in each zone, preventing the formation of hot and cold spots that lead to condensation, while still achieving overall heat management goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating and cooling system transitions from static operation to dynamic control, where temperature parameters are continuously adjusted based on real-time sensor feedback. This dynamic adjustment ensures uniform temperature distribution by actively compensating for localized thermal variations that would otherwise create condensation-prone cold spots.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of condensation and ensures more uniform temperature distribution, enhancing the reliability of electronic displays by maintaining optimal humidity and temperature levels, thereby preventing damage from moisture and thermal stress.
Implementation Method 1
the external coolant exchanging heat with internal coolant within the heat-exchanger without direct contact between the external and internal coolant
Implementation Method 2
a flow of internal coolant through the cooling module and said regions
Implementation Method 3
the heat-exchanger has a path for external coolant that is introduced into the heat-exchanger from externally of the housing and output from the heat-exchanger to externally of the housing, the external coolant exchanging heat with internal coolant within the heat-exchanger
Implementation Method 4
flow of internal coolant being deflected by a deflecting surface from the outlet of the cooling module towards the internal coolant inlets of said regions
Implementation Method 5
the display panel produces heat during use
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C~2D
AI summary
An electronic display has a housing (120) with different regions and a display panel (121) with a display surface that is visible through the housing (120). A cooling module (100,126) within the housing (120) provides a flow of internal coolant through the cooling module (100,126) and the regions. The cooling module (100,126) has a cross flow heat-exchanger (100) and side walls (126). Each of the regions and the cooling module (100,126) has an internal coolant inlet and an internal coolant outlet. The internal coolant inlets of the regions communicate with the internal coolant outlet of the cooling module (100,126) and the internal coolant outlets of the regions communicate with the internal coolant inlet of the cooling module (100,126). Each of the regions has its own circulating loop of internal coolant through the region and the cooling module (100,126), with flow of internal coolant being deflected from the outlet of the cooling module (100,126) towards the internal coolant inlets of the regions, and flow of internal coolant from the internal coolant outlets of the regions being deflected towards the internal coolant inlet of the coolingmodule (100,126). The internal coolant flows in parallel over both front and back of the display panel (121), which is spaced from the side walls (126) of the cooling module (100,126).