On-Line Tool Simplifies Cold-Plate Selection

Originally Published MPMN January 2004

E-News

On-Line Tool Simplifies Cold-Plate Selection

Melody Lee

An on-line selector tool chooses up to three cold plates to fit a customer's need. The liquid-cooled plates are suitable for cooling power supplies in MRI systems, detectors in digital x-ray equipment, and medical lasers. Lytron Inc. (Woburn, MA) recently introduced this function, which selects from the company's 25 standard products, on its Web site,www.lytron.com. The results are based on user inputs of heat load, desired surface temperature, incoming- liquid temperature, surface area, and flow rate. If one of the standard products does not work for the customer's application, an on-line form directs inquiries to an engineer. The company's engineers will review the data to determine if a custom item is feasible. 

After selecting a cold plate, the tool plots the product's performance versus the required performance, as well as the liquid pressure drop. It also provides a printable quote with single-piece pricing. The form can be faxed back to Lytron Inc. to place an order. Orders received using this form receive a 10% discount. 

"Our Web site is designed to be the engineer's definitive source of thermal-management information," says president Charlie Carswell. "We realize that design engineers may prefer to size their own cold plates, so this tool is now available for global use 24 hours a day, seven days a week." 

In addition to the selector, the site contains information about the company's products, custom capabilities, and technical support. Descriptions, pictures, performance details, ordering information, and prices are given for each product. The technical-support section features application notes, product selection information, and reference data. 

Lytron's products range from cold plates to recirculating chillers. Its cooling products include compact and portable nonrefrigerated cooling systems, aluminum-oil coolers, copper or stainless-steel tube-tin heat exchangers, compact cold plates, and OEM coils.  

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