Guided munition having a compressed fluid actuation system involving heat exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for guided munitions are inadequate in cooling all components, particularly heat-generating electronics like EOIR image processors and RF antennas, and there is a need for improved actuation systems for moveable components such as wings and nose cones during missions.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system that uses a compressible fluid stored in a reservoir, which is discharged through a throttling orifice to create a cooling effect and is directed via a heat exchange volume to cool electronics, and also used to actuate moveable components by directing the fluid through an actuation path to deploy nose cones and other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a compressible fluid is discharged through a throttling orifice to cool electronics, then the electronics are maintained within operating temperature range, but the system complexity increases due to additional cooling components
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible fluid system serves dual purposes: it cools heat-generating electronics through the heat exchange volume and simultaneously actsuates moveable components through the actuation path. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating cooling and actuation functions into a single integrated system rather than requiring separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the stored compressible fluid itself as the cooling medium without requiring external cooling equipment. The fluid expands through the throttling orifice, absorbing heat from the electronics passively, and the same expanded fluid is then utilized for actuation, making the system self-sufficient and reducing external dependencies.
2Reliability
If stored compressed gas is used to actuate moveable components, then deployment reliability is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to gas consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible fluid performs two functions: first as a cooling medium that absorbs heat from electronics, and second as an actuation medium that drives moveable components. By utilizing the same fluid for both purposes, the system maximizes the utility of the stored substance and reduces overall consumption compared to having separate dedicated systems for cooling and actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards the compressible fluid after it has served its cooling function (by allowing it to expand and cool the electronics), and then recovers its utility by using the same expanded fluid for actuation. This sequential utilization ensures that no portion of the stored fluid is wasted, as each increment of fluid expansion serves a useful purpose before being exhausted.
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
Effectively maintains electronics components within a safe operating temperature range, preventing thermal failure and efficiently deploying moveable components using a passive cooling method that utilizes the Joule-Thompson effect and stored compressed gas.
Implementation Method 1
A thermal management system utilizes a Joule-Thompson cooler and includes a reservoir housing a compressible fluid in a compressed state, a throttling orifice disposed in fluid communication with the reservoir and configured to expand the compressible fluid, and a heat exchange volume in fluid communication with the throttling orifice to receive and cool the compressible fluid from the throttling orifice
Implementation Method 2
the cooled compressible fluid can be in fluid communication with the heat exchange volume to cool the heat exchange volume by convection, and the heat exchange volume can be in thermal communication with the heat generating electronics component to remove heat from the heat generating component through conduction
Data Source
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AI summary
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an actuation system for a guided munition, includes a reservoir disposed in a guided munition body housing a compressible fluid in a compressed state, a fluid path connecting the reservoir in fluid communication with a heat exchange volume, a throttling orifice disposed in the fluid path configured to expand the compressible fluid, and an actuation path connecting the heat exchange volume in fluid communication with a moveable component. The actuation path can be configured to supply pneumatic pressure to the moveable components.