By
Author on Monday, January 3rd, 2011 |
1 Comment
I have a small form factor (SFF) computer and it fits on a shelf in a newly built cabinet (~2 cu ft). However, about three times it has shut-down due to over heating. I've added a fan to the cabinet and purchased temperature logging equipment. The fan implementation isn't very good (no shut-downs, but possible long-term thermal damage to components) so I'm trying to determine if improving the fan would be good enough or if I need to purchase a small air conditioner that would vent elsewhere. By the way, I'm an EE.
I've got temperature vs. time data for computer ON with the cabinet door open and shut. The curves look exponential and that seems correct.
1. For a problem like this what is the form of the equation(s) and what units should I work in?
The heat sources: computer and video card (the video card can be removed and on-board video can be used). Cooling sources: fan, open door and possible air conditioner.
2. How do I fit my temperature vs. time data to create a model? The data is in Excel.
I'd be satisfied with links to answers or similar examples. Google searches send me to house air conditioners. I'm actually interested in how to solve these problems, I don't want to just buy a window air conditioner and freeze the computer.
It is a matter of degrees, so to speak. The SFF case has already been removed so there's mostly unrestricted heat flow from inside the computer to the inside of the cabinet. However, the highest recorded temperature inside the cabinet is still 108F. At that temperature, the frame of the computer is hot to the touch. Imo, the problem is to remove the heat from the cabinet.
I think I found the answers I needed. This is a Heat Transfer question, not exactly Thermodynamics like I originally thought. One method of solution is called Sensible Heat the better is probably Newton's Law of Cooling. Unfortunately, Newton's law of Cooling wants R-values of insulation and I don't know how to test the insulation value of my cabinet.
I also think I found the solution for my active cooling needs. Water Cooling PC is the search that gets me to hardware to do cooling in the magnitude I need. I.e. it will cool in the range of 100s of Watts, not 10,000s of BTUs.
Related Workshop Websites