Integrated test cell cooling system

A cooling system for use in an integrated test cell having respective first and second card cages, said card cages including respective sets of spaced-apart circuit boards, said cooling system including:

• respective first and second cooling units corresponding to said first and second card cages, each of said cooling units including
• a supply path for directing a cooled cooling medium between said plurality of spaced-apart circuit boards and in the direction of said elongated edges;
• a heat exchanger disposed in a substantially vertical relationship above said plurality of spaced-apart circuit boards and having an input to receive a heated cooling medium from said plurality of spaced-apart circuit boards, a converter to convert said heated cooling medium to a cooled cooling medium, and an output for discharging said cooled cooling medium;
• and
• a circulation unit disposed above said heat exchanger output, and operative to draw said heated cooling medium from between said circuit boards, through said heat exchanger and recirculate said cooled cooling medium through a recirculation path, said recirculation path having a distal end coupled to said supply path to form a closed system.

A method of cooling a plurality of spaced-apart circuit boards disposed within a sealed housing of an integrated test cell, said method including the steps of:

• directing a cooled cooling medium along a substantially vertical supply path in the direction of and between said plurality of circuit boards to transfer heat generated by said circuit boards into said cooling medium to form a heated cooling medium;
• exchanging heat from said heated cooling medium to generate said cooled cooling medium;
• and
• recirculating said cooled cooling medium back to said plurality of circuit boards along a substantially vertical recirculation path.