Thermal and hydrodynamic studies for micro-channel cooling for large area silicon sensors in high energy physics experiments

TL;DR

This paper explores micro-channel cooling for large-area silicon detectors in high energy physics, focusing on design, simulation, and testing to optimize thermal management and flow distribution.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to micro-channel cooling tailored for large silicon detectors, including prototype development, hydrodynamic and thermal testing, and finite element simulations.

Findings

Prototype achieves homogeneous flow distribution

Cooling system effectively manages thermal loads

Simulation results align with experimental data

Abstract

Micro-channel cooling initially aiming at small-sized high-power integrated circuits is being transferred to the field of high energy physics. Today`s prospects of micro-fabricating silicon opens a door to a more direct cooling of detector modules. The challenge in high energy physics is to save material in the detector construction and to cool large areas. In this paper, we are investigating micro-channel cooling as a candidate for a future cooling system for silicon detectors in a generic research and development approach. The work presented in this paper includes the production and the hydrodynamic and thermal testing of a micro-channel equipped prototype optimized to achieve a homogeneous flow distribution. Furthermore, the device was simulated using finite element methods.