A thermosiphon is an ingeniously designed thermal management device that harnesses the power of natural convection and conduction to operate without any external power source. Using these forces, the thermosiphon system generates a continuous fluid flow, transporting heat from high-temperature areas to low-temperature areas and vice versa. The solar collector system for water heating utilizes the temperature and density difference between the hot and cold fluids to circulate the collection fluid through the storage loop.
The term thermosiphon is commonly employed across various industries, like automotive systems, electronics, and solar energy collection. Thermosiphons work like regular siphons, but they don’t need pumps to move fluid in a system. In electronics cooling, closed-loop systems are exclusively employed due to their utilization of thermosiphon. This method commonly involves water, refrigerant, or gas that is maintained at sub-atmospheric pressure.
What are the Features of Thermosiphons?
Thermosiphons are more efficient at absorbing energy compared to liquid cooling because they allow for phase change. Unlike liquid cooling, thermosiphons have the ability to change phases, making them a more efficient option. Thermosiphons solely depend on the force of gravity and resulting hydrostatic pressure to transport the condensed or cooled fluid back to the heat source.
Thermosiphon system has the potential to revolutionize high-power processor cooling by efficiently moving condensed fluid back to the heat source, without the need for a wicking material. This remarkable capability makes it a strong contender for the next generation of cooling solutions.
Also See: What is a Thermophotovoltaic System?
How Does a Thermosiphon System Work?
Thermosiphons work by using pressure differences caused by temperature variations, similar to how regular siphons use pressure differences between atmospheric pressure and vacuum pressure created by hydrostatic pressure. The pressures can create significant flow in a closed or open loop system.
A thermosiphon works in the following way to heat a water tank using solar energy:
- Solar energy is absorbed by the collector and then this thermal energy is transferred into the water.
- As the water warms up, its density decreases. This causes it to rise through the system.
- On the opposite side of the loop, the cooler substrate falls down into the collector.
Thermosiphons for electronics are designed by manufacturers with the same principle as those used in solar and automotive thermosiphons. High-power industrial applications often have proprietary designs.
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