Basic Liquid Cooling Systems for Shipboard Electronics

Large ships need reliable cooling systems for their sensitive electronics.

Large ships, from cruise ships to naval air carriers, need simple, functional ways to cool shipboard electronics. Without cooling electronics, circuitry can easily fail or cause a fire hazard.

Function

A basic, liquid cooling system for primary cooling uses sea water. Ocean water is simply pumped in through circulation pumps and filtered for debris. Using sea water allows the ship to have less weight on board for cooling purposes, enabling other items to be brought aboard, such as weapon systems.

Features

Building upon the primary liquid cooling system is the secondary cooling system. Using a heat exchanger, the warmth from the electronics is moved from a set of coolant pipes to the primary cooling system where the heat is dissipated.

Considerations

Depending on the electronics being cooled, there are temperature control valves that keep the cooling liquid between certain temperatures, such as between 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 76 degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially helpful for sensitive military components on board.

References

• U.S. Navy: Fire-Control Maintenance Concepts