Modern smartphones pack the power of a mini-computer in our pockets and are no longer limited to just a device for making calls. Heavy apps, fast processor and highly developed graphics have increased the load on these devices. Such excessive load causes even the best smartphones to overheat and eventually affect the performance of the device. Modern users are also aware of the importance of a smartphone that does not explode under pressure. From playing major mobile game titles to binge watching content, smartphones generate a lot of heat. right here liquid cooling technology comes to the rescue. Let’s discuss how liquid cooling The technology works in a smartphone and a variety of liquid cooling technologies are used by phone manufacturers.
How does liquid cooling work in a smartphone?
The liquid cooling in the smartphone works on the principle of heat dissipation. Appliances with this technology come with pre-installed heat pipes that contain a cooling liquid. This pipe absorbs the excessive heat generated by the processor and turns the liquid in the pipe into vapor. The condensation of the liquid helps in heat dissipation and gradually brings down the ambient temperature.
Vapor Chamber Cooling Technology in Smartphones
Some of the liquids commonly used for cooling include water, de-ionized water, glycol-water solutions, and fluorocarbons. However, most smartphones use water, even in small amounts that usually remain in the form of vapor. This arrangement has resulted in the technology gaining a popular name – ‘vapor room cooling’. The first two brands to adopt this technology were Nokia and Samsung, but now many of the latest smartphones in the market use this cooling method.
What is Xiaomi’s Loop LiquidCool technology?
Xiaomi announced this technology in 2021 which is inspired by the aerospace industry. The company claims that this technology provides much better cooling than traditional vapor chamber cooling. The Loop LiquidCool technology uses the “capillary effect” to pull the liquid cooling agent up to the heat source. The heat then vaporizes the cooling agent and efficiently dissipates the heat in the system towards a cooler area. The vapor then condenses in the cold region and enters the heat source again for its next cycle. This continuous cycle helps the system to stay cool. Xiaomi is expected to add a heat pipe system with gas and liquid pipes, an evaporator, a condenser, a refill chamber, for the technology to work.
How is the Loop LiquidCool technology different from the Vapor Chamber Cooling technology?
Both technologies use a similar technology to keep the equipment cool but unlike the loop liquidcool technology, vapor chamber cooling lacks a separate channel for liquids and gases. These separate channels restrict hot gases and cold liquids from mixing between cycles, which ultimately affects device performance. Xiaomi’s technology uses Tesla valves to ensure that the flow of the system is unidirectional. The valve only allows liquid to pass through while preventing gases from getting in.
Other Available Cooling Technologies
Smartphones use technologies other than liquid cooling to maintain the temperature of the device. The traditional ‘air cooling’ method which uses a fan to dissipate heat and cool the processor is also common. There is another method that helps to maintain the temperature of the device. This method is called throttling because it restricts the power of the smartphone before it hits the maximum.