APPARATUS FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT, AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT METHOD

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus for substantially preventing recirculation of heated air from an exhaust outlet of an expansion card to an air inlet of the expansion card, wherein the air inlet and exhaust outlet are both on the front end of a chassis. SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises a chassis 10 with a chassis fan 13, a motherboard 11 within the chassis having an expansion card connector, and an expansion card 20 in communication with the expansion card connector and secured to the front end 12 of the chassis. The expansion card also includes a card fan 24 configured to move cooling air through the air inlet to the exhaust outlet 18. An air duct 32, 34 redirects the hot air from the exhaust outlet to prevent recirculation into the expansion card and causes the heated air to exit through the chassis fan. The air duct may include a longitudinal segment 34 through a computer module and a lateral segment 32 selectively securable over the exhaust outlet. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT