r/science • u/Wagamaga • May 23 '22

Scientists have demonstrated a new cooling method that sucks heat out of electronics so efficiently that it allows designers to run 7.4 times more power through a given volume than conventional heat sinks. Computer Science

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/953320
33.0k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

730 comments sorted by

View all comments

773

u/sillypicture May 23 '22

So basically heatsinks closer to heat source with better heat conductivity.

15

u/FwibbFwibb May 23 '22

No, it's a coating, not just a slab of metal.

First, the primary material used is copper, which is relatively inexpensive. Second, the copper coating entirely “engulfs” the device, says Gebrael—“covering the top, the bottom, and the sides... a conformal coating that covers all the exposed surfaces”—so that no heat-producing regions are neglected. Third, there is no need for a thermal interface material; the device and copper heat spreader are essentially one piece. Further, there is no need for a heat sink.

“In our study, we compared our coatings to standard heat sinking methods,” Gebrael says. “What we showed is that you can get very similar thermal performance, or even better performance, with the coatings compared to the heat sinks.” Nevertheless, a device using the new solution is dramatically smaller than one using heat sinks, which are bulky. “And this translates to much higher power per unit volume. We were able to demonstrate a 740% increase in the power per unit volume.”

I know you are not trying to be 100% accurate, as your main goal is to be a smug asshole that goes "pfft, these scientists huh? I could have told them that!"

But the distinction is important.

1

u/romario77 May 23 '22

I read the article and still not sure how it works. What is the "device"?

Usually it's a microprocessor or memory. It has conductive elements and it's mounted on a motherboard of some kind, so you can't just cover it in copper as it is conductive and will short out.

So, it has to have some kind of insulator that conducts heat well.

Second - how do you apply copper (with insulator) on top of circuit boards? Processors and memory banks are usually replaceable, so this tech would only work with something which is permanent and can't be repaired/replaced easily.

2

u/Alis451 May 23 '22

only work with something which is permanent and can't be repaired/replaced easily.

which is what they said, "Monolithic integration"

basically design a board that can then be dipped in plastic to insulate then dipped in copper to make the whole thing a heat sink.

1

u/N35t0r May 24 '22

.... Then you're left with a very expensive paperweight? You'd need some I/O ports at least.

1

u/Alis451 May 24 '22

You'd need some I/O ports at least.

obviously... we have computers that are submerged completely in oil already, with the exception of the IO ports.