How to avoid condensation?
How to avoid condensation?
(OP)
I'm tasked with cooling a set of electronics, something I've done many times, but this project has a new twist that I have no experience with: one of the devices has it's own proprietary cooling solution that brings it's temperature below ambient and we can't allow condensation to occur.
The electronics (the conventionally cooled portion) consists of dozens of ICs dissipating a total of about 600W in a space of about 12" x 20" x 24". Normally I'd cool these with about 120 CFM of ambient air delivered by fans, but the cold device is right in the middle of this.
Does anyone have suggestions on how to avoid condensation?
The electronics (the conventionally cooled portion) consists of dozens of ICs dissipating a total of about 600W in a space of about 12" x 20" x 24". Normally I'd cool these with about 120 CFM of ambient air delivered by fans, but the cold device is right in the middle of this.
Does anyone have suggestions on how to avoid condensation?





RE: How to avoid condensation?
Faster air
Dryer air
But, I'm not sure why this is your problem. Whoever is running sub-ambient would have provisions to prevent condensation, no? After, what spec did he design to?
TTFN
RE: How to avoid condensation?
We use a cooling solution on the heat sinks for the gate drives on our VSD (York Chillers) but we are cooling it with condenser water and that never produces temperatures low enough.
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int./JCI
RE: How to avoid condensation?
I2I
RE: How to avoid condensation?
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int./JCI
RE: How to avoid condensation?
IRStuff, how does faster air help?
Yorkman, the surface temperature of the cold device can be at least 20C below ambient.
Any suggestions on the best way to dehumidify 120CFM air?
RE: How to avoid condensation?
RE: How to avoid condensation?
RE: How to avoid condensation?
Another relevant question is why does it need to stay non-condensing? Can you provide an outlet for the moisture
TTFN
RE: How to avoid condensation?
It's 11:00p.m. and I'm still thinking about your question. Something that has occured to me, the cooling fans that you are using to cool the components on your circuit board, are going to actually have a reverse affect on the self cooled device. The ambient air being circulated through the cabinet will likely make the self cooled device run at a higher temperature due to the increased heat transfer caused by the air flow. Now is it enough to cause problems I don't know but it is something to be aware of. Is it possible that if the coolant were "shut off" and the cabinet cooled in your standard method the device would operate safely? Is it possible the designer never considered the air circulation that you are providing and felt the need to supply their own?
Just some thoughts that I had to air so I could get them out of my head so I could sleep. Good Night and Good Luck
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int./JCI
RE: How to avoid condensation?
Yorkman, good point. I'll have to consider the heating effects of ambient air on the cold device. The internal temperature of the device is kept at 0C. No way to do this with ambient.
Someone suggested compressed air. Apparently the labs where these are going have compressed dry air available. Do you think it's feasible?
RE: How to avoid condensation?
Nonetheless, the most practical solution is probably to foam insulate the device. Since the insulation will take up the delta temperature between the TEC and the air stream, condensation will be minimized. This would be the next best thing to encasing the device in an evacuated enclosure.
TTFN
RE: How to avoid condensation?
Is this a one-of? And is this to be a semi-permanent setup within your control?
TTFN
RE: How to avoid condensation?
I'm not a real engineer, but I play one on T.V.
A.J. Gest, York Int./JCI
RE: How to avoid condensation?