Cooling systems are divided into active and passive types. Active cooling uses energy to transfer heat through conduction or convection, such as in car engines and air conditioning. Passive cooling uses natural heat transfer, like ridge vents in buildings. Many systems use both types for efficiency, but passive cooling is becoming more popular due to its energy-saving benefits.
Cooling systems are a vital part of many aspects of modern society, including cars, computers and buildings. Cooling systems are generally divided into two types: active and passive. Active cooling is a type of heat transfer that uses powered devices such as fans or pumps. Passive cooling transfers heat without using additional energy.
Active cooling solutions are the order of the day in contemporary society. These systems work by using energy to affect some type of heat transfer, usually by conduction or convection. Conduction occurs when thermal energy is equalized between atoms of different energy levels. Bringing water to a boil on an electric eye is a common example of conduction. Convection occurs when hotter matter is drawn away from a heat source, such as when hot air rises above a heater.
A daily use of active cooling is the system that keeps an automobile engine running. Internal combustion generates a lot of heat, and without cooling, a car engine would stall quickly. To keep the engine cool, water mixed with coolant is pumped through the engine compartment, where it absorbs heat by conduction. The superheated water is then pumped to the radiator to be cooled by the airflow. This is an active cooling solution due to the energy used by the water pump.
Another example of active cooling is the air conditioning (AC) system in a home or office. While these systems may use different basic designs, most AC cooling works by cooling the air and using fans to force it through the building. This forced convection process is one of the most commonly used active cooling methods.
Many active cooling systems work in tandem with passive cooling elements to work more effectively. For example, a passive heat sink is used to transfer heat away from a computer’s processor. As heat radiates through the heat sink, a fan blows air around the sink to keep it cooler. Additional fans typically circulate air through the computer case so that heated air is pushed out of the system. This type of cooling is used in many consumer electronic devices and is one of the reasons these devices are often so noisy.
The new technology puts an emphasis on passive cooling solutions, as these systems generally use less energy. Many new buildings have design features that allow for heat transfer naturally instead of using fans or air conditioning. A good example of this is ridge vents versus attic fans in a home. Ridge vents allow heat to escape from the attic space without using extra energy to power a fan blade. Passive systems can often save money and energy compared to active cooling systems.
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