What is a Liquid Cold Plate?

Why use Liquid Cold Plates?

Leverage the high heat capacity of liquid to quickly absorb more heat than air cooled thermal management solutions. Coldplates excel at dissipating high-density, high-output heat loads within a diverse range of system configurations, facilitating the effective transfer of heat into the liquid cooling system.

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Stamped Liquid Cold Plates

Stamped cold plates are a lightweight cold plate construction that leverages the manufacturing efficiency of aluminum stamping one or both sides of the LCP. This approach further reduces manufacturing time and costs by streamlining flow path, mounting geometry, and other features into a single process and eliminates CNC time. Stamped cold plates can be enhanced with internal fins to boost thermal efficiency and are controlled atmosphere brazed (CAB) brazed for 100% leak tested seals.

Round Tube Liquid Cold Plates

Boyd’s round tube LCPs are cost-effective component cooling for low to moderate heat loads. Tubed cold plates consist of copper or stainless-steel tubes pressed into channeled aluminum plates. Tube cooling plates are available with either continuous tube styles or a manifold style. Enhance tube cold plate performance with the addition of turbulators by 5-15%.

Materials

Flow Path Options

What is a cold plate?

A cold plate is a thermal management component that cools high-heat devices by transferring heat directly to a liquid coolant flowing through the plate. This process effectively removes excess heat and helps maintain optimal operating temperatures. A cold plate must be connected to a complete liquid cooling system.

How does a cold plate work?

A cold plate transfers heat from high-heat components to a circulating liquid coolant. When a component generates heat, the cold plate absorbs it through its surface, the heat flows into the liquid coolant, which carries it away from the component.

What is the purpose of a cooling plate?

The purpose of a cooling plate is to dissipate heat from high-heat components, preventing overheating and ensuring stable operation. By efficiently transferring heat to a liquid coolant, cooling plates help maintain optimal temperatures and improve the performance and reliability of systems in demanding environments.

What is the principle purpose of a cold plate?

The principle purpose of a cold plate involves transferring heat away from high-heat components through conduction and convection. As a component or device generates heat, the cold plate absorbs it through its surface. The absorbed heat flows into circulating liquid coolant, which carries the heat away and dissipates it through a heat exchanger or liquid cooling system.

Is a cold plate a heat exchanger?

Technically yes, a cold plate functions as a type of heat exchanger that focuses on energy absorption. It absorbs heat from high-heat components and transfers the heat to a circulating liquid coolant, efficiently removing heat to maintain optimal temperatures and prevent overheating in systems. But the thermal management industry typically uses the term “heat exchanger” to refer to thermal components that use two fluid paths focused on heat rejection from the system. Explore more about heat exchangers.

What is the thermal resistance of a cold plate?

The thermal resistance of a cold plate measures its effectiveness in transferring heat from the component or device to the coolant. It is calculated as the temperature difference across the cold plate divided by the heat flow rate. A lower thermal resistance indicates better heat transfer performance, enabling the cold plate to efficiently manage heat in various applications.

What is the difference between a cold plate and a heat pipe?

A cold plate and a heat pipe serve distinct roles in thermal management. A cold plate transfers heat directly from a component or device to a circulating liquid coolant, efficiently dissipating heat to maintain optimal temperatures. In contrast, a heat pipe uses a phase change process to move heat. A liquid inside the heat pipe evaporates when heated absorbing heat. It condenses back into a liquid when cooled, releasing heat. Cold plates excel in cooling high-heat components, while heat pipes effectively manage passive heat transfer across longer distances. Visit our heat pipes page to learn more about how heat pipes function and their applications.

What material is used for cooling plates?

Cooling plates are typically made from materials with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum and copper. Aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it ideal for many applications, while copper offers superior heat transfer but is heavier. Engineers choose the material based on factors like thermal performance, weight, cost, and the specific requirements of the cooling system.