Street Lighting Pole Base Sub-Divider for Radio Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Street lighting poles modified with telecommunications equipment face thermal issues due to increased heat load from multiple radios, with upper radios prone to overheating as they are cooled by heated air from lower radios, which existing solutions do not adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A street lighting pole base design featuring a divider that separates airflow into distinct sub-flows to cool individual heat dissipating devices separately, preventing top devices from being cooled by heated air from bottom devices, allowing for efficient cooling of multiple radios within a compact structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple radios are positioned vertically in the smart pole base, then the thermal load on the enclosure increases, but the upper radios overheat because they are cooled with heated air from the lower radios
Solution Approach 1:
The base enclosure is divided into multiple bays using vertical dividers, with each bay containing individual radios. Each bay has its own air inlet and outlet, creating separate airflow paths that prevent thermal coupling between radios in different bays. This segmentation allows multiple radios to be installed vertically without the upper radios overheating from heated air rising from lower radios.
2Temperature
If the pole diameter is increased to accommodate multiple radios with separate cooling, then the thermal problem is solved, but the pole width exceeds city right of way constraints
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the pole diameter horizontally to provide separate cooling paths, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by creating stacked bays with dividers. Each bay operates independently with its own airflow, allowing efficient cooling of multiple radios within a compact diameter that meets city right of way constraints.
3Temperature
If separate cooling airflows are provided for each radio, then each radio is cooled effectively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base enclosure serves multiple functions: it houses multiple radios, provides structural support, and acts as a thermal management system through its divided bay structure. Each bay is a self-contained unit with integrated cooling, eliminating the need for separate external cooling systems for each radio and reducing overall device complexity.
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 design ensures effective cooling of multiple heat dissipating devices in a narrow pole base, preventing thermal failure and maintaining efficient airflow without increasing the pole's diameter, thereby addressing the thermal challenges faced by telecommunications equipment in smart poles.
Implementation Method 1
a sub-divider arranged in the first bay and adapted to split an airflow from the individual air inlet for the first bay into a first sub-airflow into a first sub-bay and intended to (mainly) cool the first heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunication when mounted in the first position in the first sub-bay but (substantially) not the second heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunication when mounted in the second position
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a street lighting pole base (10), i.a. comprising a sub-divider (38) arranged in a first bay (20a) and adapted to split an airflow (46) from an individual air inlet (28) into a first sub-airflow (48a) intended to mainly cool a first heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunication (34a) when mounted in a first position (36a) but substantially not a second heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunication (34b) when mounted in a second position (36b) and a second sub-airflow (48b) intended to mainly cool the second heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunication but substantially not the first heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunication. The present invention also relates to a street lighting pole (100) comprising such a base, and to a method of cooling first and second heat dissipating device used for wireless telecommunications mounted in such a base or pole.