Custom Desert Project
Hi Guys,
This is a really random question but one i really need advice with.
I am dealing with a project that involves the following. I need to encase a motherboard and other random bits of circuitry in a steel, hermetically sealed enclosure. That's all fair and good but the environment this equipment will be running in is a desert. The temperature during summer can reach up to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). The problem this poses is the temperatures the equipment will have to operate in.
Cooling is the major issue. I was thinking of replacing one of the steel plates with aluminium or possibly even copper. A block of the selected metal would be fabricated into a custom heatsink plate. Following this i would bolt the motherboard on to the interior of the heatsink plate. Fans could then be attached on the exterior of the plate to cool the heatsink fins.
Unfortunately i don't think this would work as, because of the extreme heat, the fans will simply be blowing hot air over the already hot heatsink, thus rendering the whole thing useless.
After some research the only thing i have been able to find is air conditioning. To be honest though this wouldn't be practical as this unit is portable and will be moving all over the desert.
Any ideas would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
This is a really random question but one i really need advice with.
I am dealing with a project that involves the following. I need to encase a motherboard and other random bits of circuitry in a steel, hermetically sealed enclosure. That's all fair and good but the environment this equipment will be running in is a desert. The temperature during summer can reach up to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). The problem this poses is the temperatures the equipment will have to operate in.
Cooling is the major issue. I was thinking of replacing one of the steel plates with aluminium or possibly even copper. A block of the selected metal would be fabricated into a custom heatsink plate. Following this i would bolt the motherboard on to the interior of the heatsink plate. Fans could then be attached on the exterior of the plate to cool the heatsink fins.
Unfortunately i don't think this would work as, because of the extreme heat, the fans will simply be blowing hot air over the already hot heatsink, thus rendering the whole thing useless.
After some research the only thing i have been able to find is air conditioning. To be honest though this wouldn't be practical as this unit is portable and will be moving all over the desert.
Any ideas would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
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ASKER
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the responses. Sorry for not responding, we are looking at the various options and will post once i have some news or questions.
Thanks for all the responses. Sorry for not responding, we are looking at the various options and will post once i have some news or questions.
We will be here. Have fun. ; )
Thank you much. : )
ASKER
I had considered a water cooling option. My only reservation is having to keep topping it up, which personally isn't a problem for me. However, when this unit is being moved around the desert by non-IT familiar users, I'm worried that this won't be done.
To be fair though i have to agree, liquid cooling seems like the only viable option. Was just hoping i might get some other alternatives i hadn't thought of before i am forced to resort to it.
Thanks for the input.