Direct Contact Heat Exchanger for Avionics Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional heat exchangers are inefficient in cooling high-power density components in constrained environments, such as aircraft avionics systems, where increased computational and sensor power demands require more effective thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A direct contact heat exchanger with a heat transfer chamber using a heated substance of one density and a liquid coolant of another density, circulated through separate circuits to enhance heat dissipation, utilizing a perforated distributor to mix and separate the substances for efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional heat exchangers are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the thermal efficiency is insufficient for high-power density components
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple channels with internal partitions, creating numerous flow paths that increase the heat transfer surface area. The partition walls segment the fluid flow into multiple parallel channels, allowing simultaneous heat transfer across many interfaces, which significantly improves thermal efficiency while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for avionics applications.
Solution Approach 2:
One heat exchanger channel is nested within another, with inner channels positioned inside outer channels. This nested configuration allows heat transfer between fluids flowing in opposite directions through concentric or nested pathways, maximizing the use of available space and increasing the effective heat transfer surface area without proportionally increasing the external dimensions.
2Temperature
If heat dissipation is increased for high-power components, then thermal management improves, but the available space in constrained environments becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger utilizes three-dimensional nested and stacked configurations rather than simple two-dimensional expansion. By arranging channels in vertical and horizontal layers, and nesting inner channels within outer channels, the design achieves high heat dissipation capability within a compact volume by exploiting multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Inner heat transfer channels are positioned within outer channels, creating a nested arrangement that maximizes heat transfer surface area within the available volume. This nested structure allows multiple fluid streams to occupy overlapping spatial regions, effectively increasing the heat dissipation capability without proportionally increasing the external volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The direct contact heat exchanger achieves significantly improved thermal efficiency, up to five times greater than traditional methods, by maximizing the contact surface area and eliminating thermal barriers, allowing for increased avionics power density within limited spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer chamber containing a heated substance having a first density and a liquid coolant having a second density, a first circulation circuit fluidly coupled to the heat transfer chamber and circulating the heated substance through the heat transfer chamber for mixing with the liquid coolant
Implementation Method 2
circulating the heated substance through the heat transfer chamber for mixing with the liquid coolant, and a second circulation circuit fluidly coupled to the heat transfer chamber and circulating the liquid coolant through the heat transfer chamber
Implementation Method 3
a heat transfer chamber containing a heated substance having a first density and a liquid coolant having a second density
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger for cooling a component includes a heat transfer chamber containing a heated substance having a first density and a liquid coolant having a second density. The heat exchanger can also include a circulation circuit that recirculates the heated substance through the heat transfer chamber for mixing with the liquid coolant.