Electronics cooling system design
Cooling system portable electronics
Heatsink design portable electronics
Heatsink prototype portable electronics
Electronics cooling system design

Case Study:

Cooling System Design for Portable Electronic Device

Client:

Broadcast Microwave Services (BMS)

Project Scope:

Cooling Design, Acoustic Testing, Prototyping

Methods:

Design & Testing, CAD, Parts Procurement

Flometrics client company Broadcast Microwave Services (BMS) was developing a new COFDM digital hand held portable microwave receiver with 2-way diversity for law enforcement, public safety, homeland security, and Unmanned Vehicle Remote Video Terminal (RVT) applications. This device was required to operate in harsh environments, dealing with extreme temperatures [0 to +55 °C] and rain. The exposure to moisture required the air inlet and outlet ducts to be separate from the internal circuitry. In addition, the cooling system had to be designed with strict thickness requirements to fit the compact electronics and match the slender final design. Also, the new handheld device would generate more waste heat than their previous products, so BMS asked Flometrics to aid them in the thermal design.

Flometrics provided the following services on this project:


  • Calculations to optimize the system for maximum heat transfer coefficient with minimum fan power and thickness


  • Designed heat sink and cross-flow fan to carry away waste heat from PCB


  • Specified, procured and selected long-life brushless motor and controller


  • Performed acoustical testing to minimize fan noise


  • Had prototype heat sink and fan fabricated and tested


  • Aided in CAD integration and documentation

Concept Development:

Several configurations were conceptualized, including axial and centrifugal fans. The cross-flow fan was selected due to it low profile, quietness, power consumption and availability to place the inlet & outlet out of hand hold regions.

Prototype:

A heat sink and fan were developed further and prototypes were made.

Test & Validation:

Prototype heat sink and fan were integrated with a mock-up PCB. Power resistors were used to simulate the expected thermal loads and the housing was instrumented with thermocouples. The prototype components met the requirements keeping all the PCB components under their design temperatures.

Integration into Detail Design:

Working with BMS, the heat sink, fan and motor were integrated into the top-level CAD model and BOM.

Finished Product:

With the help of Flometrics, BMS is proud to offer the Carry-Viewer III handheld microwave receiver. A great example of how Flometrics can provide the solutions to accelerate your product from conception to production, so that you get your ideas to market sooner and with confidence.