Apparatus for cooling electronics

• US 6,700,780 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Emerson Energy Systems AB
• Original Assignee: Emerson Energy Systems AB
• Inventors: Hedberg, Klas, Bjerkensjo, Per-Olow
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/240,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20030141039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 165/48.1, 165/80.3, 165/121, 165/122-126, 454/184, 454/186, 312/236, 174/16.1, 219/209, 219/385, 392/379, 392/382, 361/678, 361/691-695, 361/724
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20618 Air circulating in different modes under control of air guidance flaps
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/207 Thermal management, e.g. cabinet temperature control

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying heat to directly cooled electronics. To ensure that directly cooled electronics are maintained at a temperature above 0° C., a circulation fan is provided in a transverse junction between an outlet duct and an inlet duct, for a recirculation flow of supplied cooling air, whereby outgoing hot air from the electronics, when necessary, may be mixed with the cold air, so as to raise the temperature of the cooling air to be supplied to the electronics.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying heat at low temperatures to directly cooled electronics housed in an outdoor cabinet comprising:

an inlet duct for supplying outdoor air to the electronics;

an outlet duct for removing the outdoor air heated by the electronics; and

a transverse junction arranged between the outlet duct and the inlet duct for enabling recirculation of the heated outdoor air from the outlet duct to the inlet duct, the transverse junction including;

a one-way valve in the outlet duct opening in response to air pressure of the heated air to discharge air from the outlet duct; and

a speed controlled fan in the transverse junction to draw air from the outlet duct to control the amount of recirculated air to the inlet duct and the amount of air discharged from the outlet duct through the one-way valve.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein guiding ribs are connected to the transverse junction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a heater is arranged in the inlet duct to heat air supplied to the electronics.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a supervisory unit, the supervisory unit sensing air temperatures inside the inlet duct and the outlet duct and varying the operation of the fan and operation of the heater in accordance with the sensed temperatures.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a heater is arranged in the inlet duct to heat air supplied to the electronics.