Buzz
Modern Smartphones resemble compact computers in your pocket. They are incredibly powerful with CPUs and GPUs that surpass even older PCs. When packing all this power into such a small space, keeping the hardware cool has become a challenge for device manufacturers.
In the quest for optimal performance as smartphones advance, manufacturers are compelled to think beyond limits. Discovering suitable solutions to maintain peak functionality becomes imperative. So, what exactly is phone cooling, and what standout cooling technologies exist?
1. Phone Cooling Unveiled
The rise in phone temperature stems from diverse factors, both internal and external. Culprits include the battery, processor, and display. Each component contributes heat; the chemicals within your phone's battery generate electricity, the processor processes information at high speeds (akin to a computer), and the phone screen emits light.
With the increasing demand for smartphones, capable of multitasking previously exclusive to computers, and the emergence of graphics-intensive mobile games like survival games, mobile devices require more powerful processors. Running resource-intensive apps on phones generates additional heat, presenting a challenge in finding effective solutions.
At its essence, thermal management is all about cooling. Without an efficient cooling system, elevated temperatures can jeopardize components, reduce phone lifespan, and in the worst-case scenario, lead to explosions. Heat management products are designed to minimize or dissipate the heat generated by regularly operating electronic devices, enhancing their reliability and preventing malfunctions. Mobile device cooling comes in two fundamental forms: passive and active.
2. Understanding Active and Passive Cooling
Passive cooling is commendable for its noiseless operation, minimal risk of sudden breakdowns, and independence from power sources. Meanwhile, active cooling technologies facilitate quicker and more efficient temperature reduction but often come with drawbacks such as size constraints, energy requirements, noise, and specific costs like mobile cooling fans.
Among the age-old methods of passive cooling widely embraced are the Heat Sink and Heat Spreader. A basic Heat Sink serves as a heat exchanger, transferring heat from one device, like a CPU, to another. Heat Sinks come in various sizes and forms, typically utilizing heat-conductive metals like aluminum or copper physically attached to the heat-generating component. Heat is transferred from the component to the Heat Sink through conduction and then dissipates into the surrounding air through natural convection.
A more intricate form of Heat Sink is the Heat Spreader, which operates by transferring heat from its source to a secondary heat exchanger with a larger surface area and geometry. Typically, a flat plate made of a heat-conductive material, like graphite, is used to absorb and transmit heat to the outer metal frame of the mobile device and ultimately into the environment. Most contemporary smartphones rely on some form of Heat Spreader for effective heat dissipation.
3. Commonly Seen Cooling Technologies
Phone manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, Asus, or OnePlus have implemented liquid cooling technology and Carbon cooling (Water Carbon cooling) in their products. Additionally, users can opt for external cooling accessories like cooling fans to actively cool their phones.
3.1. Liquid Cooling
Liquid cooling systems made their debut in Microsoft's Lumia 950XL, Sony's Xperia Z2, and Samsung's adoption in the Galaxy S7. They employed copper heat pipes to dissipate heat from the CPU, especially during intensive operations. A small amount of liquid within these pipes (not visible when cut) operates through condensation. As the processor heats up, the liquid vaporizes, ensuring constant CPU cooling. The vapor travels to the front end of the heat pipe, where it condenses back into liquid upon cooling. This process, combined with carbon TIM (Thermal Interface Material), proves to be an exceptionally effective hardware cooling method for phones.
3.2. Carbon Cooling
Samsung expanded the concept of liquid cooling with Carbon cooling on the Note 9. Recognizing the need for enhanced cooling power compared to the S7 or any previous phones, Samsung achieved this by employing a broader heat pipe and adding a copper layer between two heat dissipation modules.
The entire cooling system operates on multiple layers. Just above the processor, there's a layer of carbon fibers beneath a thin copper sheet. On top of that, there's another layer of an unspecified thermal-conductive material, followed by a copper heat pipe. Right above the heat pipe is a heat dispersion device to prevent heat concentration at one point.
3.3. External Cooling Fan
You're probably familiar with cooling fans for laptops, but it's not surprising that phones also have such cooling solutions. While some might find the idea of a phone cooling fan quirky, it proves most beneficial when the phone gets excessively hot during gaming sessions. The cooling fan operates by connecting to the phone or power source via a USB cable. However, it's advisable to connect it to a power source rather than directly to the phone to prevent rapid battery depletion.
Using thermal paste for computers is crucial to keep your device running fast and stable. If you're unsure how to do this, check out How to Use Thermal Paste for Computers and laptops here.
