Estimation of the Optimum Dimensions of a Vertical Channel Model for Natural Air Cooling in Electronic Equipment

The cooling capability in compact electronic equipment in natural convective flow fields has been investigated. The relationship between air passage width in the channel and natural cooling capability was obtained. Temperature and velocity measurements were carried out using a channel model of electronic equipment comprising a vertical duct of rectangular section. The channel model had two copper walls and two transparent acrylic walls. The clearance between the copper walls was used as a parameter for the channel model. Velocity profiles of natural cooling flow in the channel were quantitatively measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The temperature and velocity results demonstrated that changes in the velocity profiles closely depend on the wall clearances. It is clarified that the clearance from 8 mm to 10 mm is the best size for natural cooling in the channel.