Two-Phase Cabinet Cooling for Uniform Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling fin designs for sealed electronic equipment cabinets are limited in covering the entire surface area, lead to hot spots due to uneven heat distribution, and fail to efficiently transfer heat across the surface due to mechanical attachment constraints and radiant/convective heat transfer issues.
Innovation Solution
A two-phase thermal device is integrated into the cabinet, featuring spaced and opposed transfer walls with a liquid/vapor medium in a sealed cavity, which acts as a heat transfer medium between the walls, maximizing heat transfer through convective cooling and minimizing hot spots by ensuring uniform temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external cooling fins are used to remove heat from internal components, then heat dissipation is improved, but the entire surface area of the cabinet cannot be covered due to mechanical attachment limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet walls are divided into multiple segments with integrated cooling channels, allowing each segment to function as an independent heat dissipation unit. This segmentation enables complete surface area coverage while maintaining mechanical feasibility through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is merged directly into the cabinet wall structure itself, eliminating the need for separate external fin attachments. The cabinet walls serve dual purposes: structural support and heat dissipation surfaces, achieving full surface area utilization.
2Temperature
If cooling fins are attached to cabinet walls, then convective heat transfer is improved, but hot spots occur at the heat transfer surfaces where radiant and convective heat transfer between internal components and cooling fin connection blocks are located
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal coupling medium or interface material is introduced between the internal components and the cabinet wall cooling channels to ensure uniform heat distribution. This intermediary layer eliminates hot spots by providing consistent thermal contact across the entire heat transfer surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channel distribution and dimensions are optimized locally at different positions on the cabinet walls to account for varying heat generation patterns. This localized optimization ensures uniform temperature distribution across all heat transfer surfaces.
3Reliability
If the cabinet is sealed to protect internal components from contaminants, then component protection is improved, but flow through ventilation cannot be used to remove equipment generated heat
Solution Approach 1:
The natural convection ventilation system is replaced with a closed-loop liquid cooling system that operates entirely within the sealed cabinet. This substitution maintains the seal integrity while providing effective heat removal through conductive and convective heat transfer within the closed liquid circulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid coolant serves as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the internal components and the cabinet wall cooling channels. This liquid mediator enables efficient heat removal while allowing the cabinet to remain completely sealed against atmospheric contaminants.
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 solution effectively transfers heat across the entire surface area of the cabinet, reducing hot spots and enhancing heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining the cabinet's seal integrity, ensuring effective cooling without exposing the internal components to contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid/vapor is retained in the interior sealed cavity acting as a heat transfer medium between the first and second transfer walls
Implementation Method 2
The liquid/vapor retained in the interior sealed cavity acting as a heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 3
remove heat from the internal components of the cabinet by convective/conductive heat transfer through the outer walls of the cabinet
Implementation Method 4
remove heat from the internal components of the cabinet by convective/conductive heat transfer through the outer walls of the cabinet
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical equipment cabinet cooling device includes an electrical equipment cabinet having a cabinet outer frame defining an inner perimeter wall. A planar outer cabinet wall is positioned within the inner perimeter wall. A two-phase thermal device includes spaced and opposed first and second transfer walls. An outer perimeter wall connects the first and second transfer walls and defines an interior sealed cavity between the first and second transfer walls. The outer perimeter wall is sized for slidable receipt within the inner perimeter wall. A liquid/vapor retained in the interior sealed cavity acts as a heat transfer medium between the first and second transfer walls. A convective cooling block has a planar end face in direct contact with the second transfer wall. Heat transfers to atmosphere in a path including the outer cabinet wall, the first transfer wall, the liquid/vapor, the second transfer wall, and the cooling block.