NEC announces new phase-change cooler
The new technology - based around earlier NEC products - promises some impressive efficiency gains.
According to coverage over on CrunchGear, the company has developed a new cooling system based around chlorofluorocarbon replacements which boil at 50 degrees - changing into a vapour which is moved to a heat exchanger unit to be turned back into a liquid once more.
While phase-change cooling systems aren't new, NEC's latest creation boasts some impressive claims: according to the company, the new cooling system uses 60 percent less energy than a watercooling system - and 80 percent less than a high-end air-cooling system. Due to its increased efficiency, the system runs quieter as well, with the fan running at a slower pace than in a traditional air-cooling system.
Perhaps most importantly for future adoption of the technology, NEC has price on its side too: the company claims that systems based around the CFC-replacement technology could work out up to 70 percent cheaper to produce than equivalent watercooling systems.
While the company isn't aiming the first generation of its technology at the consumer level - instead looking to use it internally before offering it to data centres as a way of cutting their energy costs - it could represent a glimpse of the future of cooling.
Do you think that NEC's creation shows promise, or will it all depend on actual figures from independent tests? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Previous Article
45 Comments
Discuss in the forums ReplyREEEALLY?
They might be referring to server racks/hpc systems, which are often like wind tunnels :P
I am very interested in which type of micro-compressor they used, anyone know?
Again, i think the efficiency angle is for server rooms where a 70% saving could save significant money.
C6H14 Hexan (Boils at) 69°C (ignites at) 240°C
First: What fluid is used in the "VaporX" coolers?
secondly, in a normal ATX-case the graphicscart is placed "Upside down".
Wouldn't the gas phase be at the hot point (die), and the fluid phase at the cold cooler side?)
Good work. :)
Bit cynical but how can't you be with such claims.
Phase change may have the upper hand in terms of getting the heat from the chips quickly, but I can't for the life of me figure out how they expect to get rid of as much heat as my triple radiator and three Gentle Typhoons.
I guess we will have to see.
I hope they also start making self-contained GPU aftermarket coolers.
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/VaporX/VaporX_index.aspx?cid=2
I've no idea what the hell that means - it's late and all my brain returns is: chickens!
God damned chicken rice I had for dinner. :(
So, BT be the first to have your hands on that product and proceed with your independent testing that we care so much for, okay? tata xD
if the working fluid doesn't boil until 50 deg c don't expect some miracle cooling a few degrees above ambient.
Remember, they're trying to cool about a hundred pcs in the same size room as you cool one or two.
In bulk, this could work very well.
Its just water. Because of the low pressure the water's boiling point is lowered and the time it takes to boil (when in perfect thermal contact with a constant head source) is also lowered. Which are both good as the specific heat of water remains constant, the faster it can boil and condense the more energy per unit time can be transferred away from the heat source. A lower boiling point also means that the water contains less ambient heat (temperature) during the heat (energy) transfer.
Ideally you would want to have the lowest pressure possible and a fluid with a very high heat capacity and low boiling point (at atmospheric pressure). Theoretically you can get to sub-ambient temps that way.
Butttttt if the pressure is too low your vapor chamber will collapse and ruin your day
the thing is herte they are talking about saving 70% of the cooling power cost. thats only about 20w per blade and as the blade is using around 300w-400w (asuming dual cpu) that actualy a masive 6% total power save.
just as a side note ithis just removes the heat from the cpu so youle sill need some killer fans to get the heat away for good.
i have degigned a theoretical system that could save 81% of the entire system power draw and if i can get that working then you can celabrate
Give it a break guys, this is a great idea for data centres and eventually single PCs. Being skeptical without reason does not make you cool, it makes you look like a troll. Being skeptical and using the scientific method (and selling your invention for 15 billion euros) is cool.
Enjoy,
S*D
I could be wrong though.
How does this differ from a heat pipe? I thought they did passive phase change too?
Correct...
Still the question remains, why does it work upside down and wouldn't the performance be better the other way round?
Ah...well, a second effect takes place: capillary effect.
Appearently (I've never opened one) the inside of a heatpipe is ribbed, so the fluid will go from the "cold" part where it condenses to the "hot" part were it vaporizes even against gravity.
I guess...(again haven't opened one) this is how the Vapour-X chamber works as well.
you can test this by pouring just a bottom of coffee in a cup and stacking three lumps of sugar...the coffee will move up against gravity (till the sugar collapses)
Heatpipes used to be tested in different orientations, and I would still expect them to work best when "hot" is down and "cold" is up....
Testbenches are built this way instead of the normal "sideways" position in an ATX case...coincidence? :D
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presenta...dex.aspx?cid=2
They use a wick for the capillary effect.
high end water cooling is still very expensive, for little to no benifit over the cheaper water coolers( you need huge oveclocks )
if this is Down In the Titan fenrir price range could be fun.
Not that I have a hat to begin with, but whatever.
So if it costs the same as a Titan Fenrir, and comes with a hat, would you eat it? :D
Yes.
After all, chocolate hats taste good. It's bad to waste a perfectly good hat!
Danamix is where this needs to be performance wise but price would be higher unless they can do it on massive volumes.
There's got to be a Phase Change builder out there who could fit the whole box in 3x5.25" bays so they can be OEM fitted.
Hardcore Computer Liquid Blade Server