Heat and energy transfer have become a major focus within the industry. Both are crucial aspects, closely monitored to ensure performance, quality, and safety are maintained.

All hardware naturally requires capable power and performance to operate. However, the demands placed on devices are currently increasing. Over time, this excessive load influences how we design components and ensure the safety and optimization of a device.

We can see for ourselves, in simple examples like modern Personal Computers (PCs) and smartphones, that high specifications are now required to meet the needs of software demanding greater performance. For instance, graphics rendering, running demanding software like Adobe, Blender, or Laragon, and even playing large-capacity video games can cause the device to overheat.

The more power required to run an application, the more heat will be generated. Why does this happen?

This is because every conductor (electrically conductive materials like copper, aluminum, or gold traces in components) and semiconductor (CPU/GPU chips) naturally has electrical resistance. When a demanding application is run, the device draws a large amount of electrical current to meet this power demand. As this high current is forced to flow through the existing resistance within the components, "friction" occurs at the electron level. This "friction" is what converts electrical energy into heat energy. This phenomenon, where electrical current passing through resistance generates heat, is known as the Joule Effect (or Joule Heating).

Friends of UNDIRA, since the heat from the Joule Effect cannot be eliminated, it must be managed or transferred. This is where we need systems capable of controlling the temperature to prevent the device from overheating. This system design process is based on the science of Thermodynamics.

Thermodynamics is a field of study in Mechanical Engineering that explores energy, heat, and how temperature increases affect machine performance—including how to optimize the dissipation of heat generated by a device. This is achieved by creating systems that can regulate the overall temperature to maintain the device's operating conditions.

Related to the Law of Conservation of Energy, which works alongside the principles of Thermodynamics, it is explained that energy cannot be created or destroyed. Energy can fundamentally only be converted into other forms or transferred.

In practice, Thermodynamics is crucial in the process of designing a device and selecting its components. This is done to ensure the device's durability, allowing it to operate properly. By doing so, we can prevent overheating, which can damage the device's performance in the long run.

One modern application of Thermodynamics can be seen in heat-spreading systems within devices. A simple example is thermal paste, which aids heat transfer via conduction. Furthermore, one of the popular technologies in smartphones for avoiding overheating is the Vapor Chamber. It applies a vapor-based cooling principle, distributing heat evenly without damaging the device's system.

Thermodynamics is now clear evidence of progress in device development and research, addressing the durability challenges of modern devices, especially in managing the internal heat generated by components.

If you, friends of UNDIRA, are interested in the world of machinery and machine maintenance, then the Mechanical Engineering or Electronic Engineering study programmes at Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA) should be one of your main choices. In the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, you will be encouraged to innovate in finding the best and safest solutions for long-term use. With an extensive curriculum, practical work, and supporting facilities like the physics lab, Mechanical Engineering at UNDIRA is prepared to graduate young engineers who are competent not only theoretically but also practically.

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