A Prototype and Efficiency Analysis of Indirect Regenerative Evaporative Cooling System for Electronics

This paper presents an innovative solution based on the Indirect Regenerative Evaporative Cooling (IREC) concept for high-power density electronics. The technology relies on forced convective cooling by air that is additionally cooled via evaporation. The system comprises dry and wet channels for the cooled and wet air, respectively; water is delivered through porous membranes in the wet channels. The novelty relative to HVAC-type exchangers (based on IREC technology) is a full flow return configuration, in which the entire stream from the dry channels is redirected into the wet channels. The performance benefits become pronounced at high ambient temperatures, where traditional forced convection may be insufficient; inlet air absolute humidity is a key factor governing efficiency. The authors present a developed prototype, a simplified thermal analysis, measurement results, and a discussion of IREC applicability to electronics cooling. The results indicate feasibility and highlight the potential of the proposed design for the energy-efficient thermal management of sensitive electronic equipment.