Display Loopback Cooling for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic displays and their components in outdoor applications face challenges in thermal management due to extreme temperatures and environmental conditions, as ambient air cooling is insufficient to maintain optimal operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of loopback cooling systems that combine open and closed loop pathways for thermal interaction, using a fan unit to circulate gas through heat exchangers and equipment storage devices, ensuring effective heat dissipation and cooling of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ambient air is allowed to pass over the exterior of the assembly for cooling, then the cooling system is simple, but the cooling effectiveness is insufficient to maintain optimal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent channels: open loop pathways for ambient air and closed loop pathways for circulating gas. Each channel serves specific cooling functions, allowing optimized thermal management without requiring a single complex system
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchanger serves as an intermediary component between the ambient air and the circulating gas in the closed loop pathway. This heat exchanger enables thermal interaction and heat transfer without direct mixing of the two gas streams, achieving effective cooling while maintaining system efficiency
2Temperature
If a closed loop pathway is used to circulate cooled gas, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulating gas in the closed loop pathway serves multiple functions: it cools the electronic displays through thermal interaction at the heat exchanger, cools the equipment storage devices through loopback flow, and can be reused repeatedly. This multi-functionality justifies the added system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through the loopback flow mechanism where cooled gas is circulated back to the equipment storage devices and then returns to the fan unit and heat exchanger. This feedback loop ensures continuous cooling effectiveness and allows the system to adapt to thermal conditions
3Temperature
If cooled gas is circulated back to equipment storage devices, then equipment cooling is improved, but the pressure distribution in the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates different pressure conditions in different regions: the area between the heat exchanger and fan unit is maintained at relatively low pressure to facilitate loopback flow, while the area between the fan unit and front channels is at higher pressure to drive gas through the displays. This localized pressure management optimizes both cooling effectiveness and equipment protection
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 approach provides efficient thermal management by ensuring that cooled gas is circulated back to equipment storage devices, maintaining optimal operating conditions for electronic displays and components in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
The open loop pathway(s) and the closed loop pathway(s) may be configured to provide thermal interaction between the ambient air in the open loop pathway(s) and the circulating gas within the closed loop pathway(s). Such thermal interaction may occur at one or more heat exchangers located within the display assembly.
Implementation Method 2
The area between the heat exchanger and the fan unit may be relatively low pressure compared to the areas between the fan unit and the front channels. This may be due to the pressures created by the fan unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A display assembly with cooling pathways includes a housing for an electronic display and a closed, continuous airflow pathway. Partition(s) located within the housing partially separate an equipment storage area for electronic equipment from the continuous airflow pathway. The partition(s) define, at least in part, a sub-pathway within, but separated from, the closed, continuous airflow pathway. Fan(s), when activated, cause a portion of a flow of circulating gas traveling through the closed, continuous airflow pathway to leave the same and instead travel through the sub-pathway pathway while a remainder of the flow continues through the closed, continuous airflow pathway, before rejoining the closed, continuous airflow pathway.