LCD Display Cooling System with Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern electronic displays face challenges in cooling, particularly in outdoor environments with extreme temperatures and high brightness, leading to heat generation and noise issues due to previous cooling methods that either fail to evenly distribute cooling or introduce contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system utilizing circulating gas to remove heat from the front and rear of LCD displays, with ambient gas ingestion through a cross-flow heat exchanger and manifold distribution to reduce noise and prevent contamination, along with temperature sensors to adjust airflow for consistent cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ambient gas is drawn through the display for cooling, then heat removal is improved, but noise emission increases
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary device between the ambient gas and the display components. The heat exchanger allows thermal energy transfer while physically isolating the gas flow path from the display cavity, thereby enabling cooling without direct gas circulation through the display that would generate noise.
2Temperature
If gas is circulated through the display for cooling, then heat removal is improved, but contamination with dust and particulate occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves as a mediator that separates the cooling function from the display cavity. Ambient gas flows through the heat exchanger where heat is extracted, then the cooled gas is introduced into the display cavity. This intermediary approach allows cooling while preventing direct exposure of the display to ambient dust and particulates.
3Temperature
If cooling is applied to the front surface of the backlight, then heat removal is improved, but the backlight cavity becomes contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate zones: ambient gas cooling path and display cavity interior. The heat exchanger handles ambient gas cooling externally, while a separate clean gas circulation system cools the display cavity internally. This segmentation allows front surface backlight cooling without introducing contaminants into the sealed backlight cavity.
4Temperature
If multiple cooling zones are implemented, then even temperature distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple thermal zones (front surface, rear surface, side edges) each with dedicated cooling pathways. Temperature sensors in each zone feed back to control systems that independently regulate cooling gas flow to each segment, achieving uniform temperature distribution across the entire display while managing complexity through modular zoned control.
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 system effectively reduces noise emissions and ensures even temperature distribution across the display, preventing hot spots and maintaining image quality by using separate gas pathways and intelligent airflow control.
Implementation Method 1
Heat exchangers were found to produce an excellent means for transferring heat between the closed loop of gas and the ambient gas
Implementation Method 2
transferring heat between the closed loop of gas and the ambient gas
Implementation Method 3
circulating a closed loop of gas around the display and drawing ambient gas through the display
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for cooling an electronic image assembly having a plurality of cooling gas pathways place behind the electronic image assembly. A first fan may be used to force cooling gas through a first grouping of cooling gas pathways while a second fan may be used to force cooling gas through a second grouping of cooling gas pathways. Temperature sensing devices may be positioned so as to measure the temperature of the first and second groupings of cooling gas pathways. The speeds of the first and second fans may be adjusted based on the temperature measurements of the cooling gas pathway groupings. Additional fans with additional temperature sensing devices may be used for further accuracy and control over the temperature gradients of the electronic image assembly. Manifolds may be used to distribute/collect cooling gas to/from the cooling gas pathways.