Modelling of heat processes for data transmission equipment for operation at high temperature

Abstract

Modern automation processes are being improved. The use of autonomous robots in agriculture is increasing. Data collection requires the use of high-resolution cameras that produce very large amounts of data. The CPU emits a significant amount of heat when processing the resulting data. Consideration must be given to global warming, which has resulted in ambient temperatures in certain continents reaching critically high values, which could adversely affect the operation of electronic equipment. Active cooling solutions are known to work much more efficiently than passive cooling systems. For equipment designed for outdoor use, active cooling, due to its specific nature, poses significant inconvenience and risks, because the unit can overheat if the fan stops, or if the ventilation ducts or filters are blocked. The experiments used a Wi-Fi base station capable of data rates of up to 867 Mbps. The outside of the unit body can be warmed up to 70 ºC or more by exposure to solar radiation. In order for the data transmission components to operate efficiently and safely in the open air, it is necessary to ensure that the passive cooling system developed dissipates heat sufficiently into the environment. As a result of the study a curve was created, which shows how the warming temperature of the critical component varies with the ambient temperature. The maximum permissible ambient temperature values at which the unit can operate were determined. The obtained results will allow to evaluate the cooling efficiency of the design of the investigated Wi-Fi device in extreme climatic conditions, which is especially relevant for devices used in high temperature climatic zones. Air and heat flow simulations represent how heat is dissipated inside and outside the unit.