Cooling Electronic Equipment at Simulated High Altitude in Hypobaric Chambers

Abstract

An air cooling system has been designed to minimize electronic equipment failures during simulated exposures to 9,000 meters (29,000 ft) in hypobaric chambers. Air density, critical to convective heat transfer during electronic equipment operations, diminishes rapidly below 830 grams cubic meter (16,000 ft, 5,000 meters) resulting in equipment failures. Forced convection, using fans, can be effective up to 6,000meters but extensive equipment failures occur at higher altitudes. A newly designed cooling system incorporates a micrometer- like air-flow control nozzle that directs compressed air onto the subject area. The design also accelerates surrounding air molecules to create a highly amplified flow by adding the entrained ambient air to the compressed air. Air flows may be directed on heat exchangers, power supplies, through ventilation ports, ports, to assist fan units, and for general in-cabinet cooling.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 25, 1987
Accession Number
ADA185196

Entities

People

  • James A. Devine

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Flow
  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Research
  • Classification
  • Compressed Air
  • Convection
  • Electronic Equipment
  • Heat Transfer
  • High Altitude
  • Hypobaric Chambers
  • Instrumentation
  • Military Research
  • Sea Level
  • Security

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Mathematics or Statistics

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems