Application and Analysis of Different Heat Dissipation Methods for Outdoor Telecommunications Equipment

  With the intensification of competition in the communication industry, in order to reduce investment costs and operating costs, more and more operators choose outdoor communication equipment to build communication networks. There are various heat dissipation methods for outdoor communication equipment. At present, natural heat dissipation, fan heat dissipation, heat exchanger heat dissipation and thermoelectric cooling (TEC air conditioner) are common. How to choose the heat dissipation method of the outdoor cabinet and minimize the impact of the high and low temperature environment on the equipment is a problem that operators are very concerned about. This article gives suggestions through the simulation, test and analysis of different heat dissipation methods.

Outdoor Cabinet Cooling Simulation and Testing

Theoretical Simulation Analysis

     With or without fans for heat dissipation, the simulation results of the temperature distribution in the battery cabinet are shown in Figures 1 and 2 (the external ambient temperature is 35°C). From the simulation results, for the natural heat dissipation without fan, the internal temperature of the system is relatively high due to solar radiation heat and the poor airtight heat dissipation effect of the system. The average temperature is about 3°C higher than the ambient temperature.

   Figure1                                  Figure2                                   Figure3

     The simulation of the temperature distribution in the battery cabinet under the TEC air-conditioning cooling mode is shown in Figure 3 (the external ambient temperature is 50°C). From the simulation results, when the ambient temperature is 50°C, the average temperature of the battery surface is about 35°C, which can be achieved about 15°C. The lowering of the temperature has a better cooling effect.

test test analysis

     Test scenario 1: Comparative test of natural cooling and fan cooling;

     Test temperature: 20℃～26℃ (outdoor natural environment temperature);

     Test equipment: outdoor power integrated cabinet (including equipment compartment and battery compartment);

When the battery cabinet is equipped with a fan, the heat exchange rate between the inside and outside of the battery cabinet is significantly faster than that without a fan. After the heat balance is reached inside and outside the cabinet, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cabinet when there is a fan is about 3°C; if the fan is not turned on, The maximum temperature difference between the inside and outside of the cabinet is 8.5°C. If the external ambient temperature is higher, heat will accumulate without a fan, and the temperature difference between the inside and outside will be larger.

Test Scenario 2: Comparative test of fan cooling and TEC air conditioner cooling;

     Test temperature: 40℃ (indoor high temperature environment);

     Test equipment: outdoor power integrated cabinet (including equipment compartment and battery compartment);

In the case of high temperature, the TEC air conditioner has an active cooling function. The external ambient temperature of 40 °C, the stable temperature inside the cabinet is 25 °C, which is 15 °C lower than the external ambient temperature; the fan is passive heat dissipation, and the stable temperature inside the cabinet is 44 °C. ℃, which is 4℃ higher than the ambient temperature. Therefore, for high temperature environment, choosing TEC heat dissipation is more suitable for the use of the battery, which can effectively prolong the service life of the battery.