Transcript Open Evaporative Cooling

Open Evaporative Cooling
An idea for a compact cooling layout for electronic
systems that uses liquid C02 evaporating through
porous ceramic blocks
Richard Apsimon, PPD;
Andy Nichols, EID;
Mike Woodward, EID;
Marc Weber, PPD;
Mike Tyndel, PPD
Justin Greenhalgh, EID
A.Nichols
CLRC
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Open Evaporative cooling
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Some of us at RAL have expressed an interest in working on open
evaporative cooling. We know of two approaches:
» Idea of Marco Olcese – direct application of evaporative fluid to
components – suggested at Genova workshop
» Idea of Richard Apsimon – a porous ceramic interface between
fluid and modules
Both ideas are very immature at present
» Much too early for any detailed engineering; this is just a mini
statement of interest
A.Nichols
CLRC
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Open Evaporative Cooling
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Currently, the evaporation takes place inside a closed tube, with many
exhausts, according to circuit modularity. This is bad for:
» Material mass
Heat source
» Number of connectors and exhaust tubes;
» General complication
Inlet (liquid) flow
» Compactness
Cooling circuit
Vapour
Typically there could be
Around fifty circuits
Transverse view of
Cooling circuit
Compressor/
Condenser
Heat source
Exhaust (vapour) flow
A.Nichols
CLRC
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Open Evaporative Cooling
Maybe a better approach is to evaporate through porous ceramic blocks, a bit like
This:
Single exhaust tube
Compressor/condenser
Heat source
Outer
enclosure
Porous ceramic blocks,
linked by metal tubes
Very significant saving in
Material mass, connectors and
General complication
A.Nichols
Porous ceramic block
CLRC
Evaporation
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Open Evaporative Cooling
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Some tentative objectives:
» Understand the theory properly (AN is not qualified to do this!) –
CO2 phase diagram and flow characteristics of the porous
ceramics and metal pipework (by December 2006)
» (RAL cooling/cryogenic group has already started this)
» Continue discussions with ceramics industry – Identify correct type
of ceramic (by June 2007)
» Develop a reliable ceramic/tube interconnect (June 2007)
» Build a suitable CO2 gas rig
No serious attempt has been made to estimate costs or effort
requirements yet.
A.Nichols
CLRC
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