THERMAL CONSIDERATIONS

Thermal management is an important part of the system design. To ensure proper, reliable operation, sufficient cooling of the power module is needed over the entire temperature range of the module. Convection cooling is usually the dominant mode of heat transfer.

Hence, the choice of equipment to characterize the thermal performance of the power module is a wind tunnel.

Thermal Testing Setup

Delta’s DC/DC power modules are characterized in heated vertical wind tunnels that simulate the thermal environments encountered in most electronics equipment. This type of equipment commonly uses vertically mounted circuit cards in cabinet racks in which the power modules are mounted.

The following figure shows the wind tunnel characterization setup. The power module is mounted on a test PWB and is vertically positioned within the wind tunnel. The space between the neighboring PWB and the top of the power module or a heat sink is 6.35mm (0.25”).

Thermal Derating

Heat can be removed by increasing airflow over the module. Figure 18 and 19 show maximum output is a function of ambient temperature and airflow rate. To enhance system reliability, the power module should always be operated below the maximum operating temperature. If the temperature exceeds the maximum module temperature, reliability of the unit may be affected.

THERMAL CURVES

Figure 18: Hot spot temperature measured point

The allowed maximum hot spot temperature is defined at 110

 

S48SA1R812(Standard) Output Current vs. Ambient Temperature and Air Velocity

14

Output Current(A)

@ Vin < 60V

 

 

12

 

600LFM

10

 

500LFM

 

Natural

 

8

Convection

 

 

 

400LFM

6

 

100LFM

 

 

4

 

200LFM

2

 

300LFM

FACING PWB

AIR VELOCITY

AND AMBIENT

TEMPERATURE

MEASURED BELOW

THE MODULE

AIR FLOW

PWB

MODULE

50.8 (2.0”)

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

65

70

75

80

85

90

95

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ambient Temperature ()

Figure 19: Output current vs. ambient temperature and air velocity @Vin< 60V

10 (0.4”)

Note: Wind Tunnel Test Setup Figure Dimensions are in millimeters and (Inches)

Figure 17: Wind tunnel test setup

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Delta Electronics 33W Family, Series S48SA Thermal Considerations, Thermal Curves, Thermal Testing Setup, Thermal Derating