Session: 10-06-01: Fluid Measurements and Instrumentation

Paper Number: 142271

142271 - Detecting Blockage Formation in Water-Cooled Electronic Systems With Digital Shadows 

The thermal management of electronic systems is critical. Water-cooled power electronics leverage water's superior thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity when compared to air. Enabling more power-dense applications than their air-cooled counterparts. However, the effectiveness of this cooling method can be compromised by blockages within the plumbing components that make up the water-cooled system. These blockages can disrupt the coolant flow, trapping heat within the electronic components and elevating temperatures beyond the safe operating range, which can lead to system failure. To mitigate the effects of blockage formation, it is proposed that digital twins could be utilized to actively monitor the liquid cooling loops and report any suspected blockage. A digital twin mirrors the life cycle of its physical counterpart and provides insight into the different behaviors of the physical assets. In the context of digital twin systems, a digital shadow can be developed in the early stages of developing a digital twin. The digital shadow receives data from the physical asset and replicates its life cycle. The digital shadow can be used to provide estimations and predictions regarding various key parameters affecting the behavior of the physical asset. This work proposes the use of a digital shadow-based method for detecting and quantifying blockages in coupled electro-thermal power electronic systems. The proposed method offers the ability to dynamically detect blockages in critical components of a cooling system, enabling automated decision-makers to provide corrective measures or divert power to other electrical components with adequate cooling capabilities. The contribution of this work lies in its application of digital twin and digital shadow technology to address a critical challenge in power electronic systems. By providing real-time insights and enabling automated decision-making, this proposed method is a step forward for efficient
operation in coupled electro-thermal systems. The performance of the proposed digital shadow system is discussed in detail along with the required computation load necessitated by the required digital shadow.

The above 316-word abstract was cleared through a government process that must be undertaken for all materials from this project. However, ASME requires a 400-word abstract. Unfortunately, as government reviews of material can take 30 days, there is not sufficient time to get a 400-word abstract re-cleared so we have submitted the 316-word abstract intending to submit a 400-word abstract with the full paper that will be re-cleared by the government sponsor. We apologize for this oversight and the confusion that it adds to the review process.

Presenting Author: Richard Hainey University of South Carolina

Presenting Author Biography: Richard Hainey is a graduate research assistant at the University of South Carolina. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Carolina and is pursuing a master’s degree in the same field. Richard is currently working with the university in collaboration with the U.S Navy in a project titled SCEPTER or the “South Carolina Energy and Power Testbed for Engineering Research”. His research encompasses fluid network design, heat transfer, and digital twin research and development.

Authors:

Richard Hainey University of South Carolina
Braden Priddy University of South Carolina
Kerry Sado University of South Carolina
Austin Downey University of South Carolina
Jamil Khan University of South Carolina
Haskell Fought University of South Carolina
Kristen Booth University of South Carolina