Liquid-to-Gas Phase Change Thermal Absorber and Isolator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thermal management systems for flight vehicles, such as missiles and rockets, face challenges in effectively reducing heat transfer from the outer skin to internal components due to size and weight constraints, as they often rely on bulky insulators or pressure vessels that increase the overall system size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A multi-function thermal absorber and isolator using liquid-to-gas phase change material, comprising multiple layers of phase-stable material separated by spaces filled with liquid phase change material, which vaporizes to absorb heat and then vents, allowing the structure to function as both a thermal absorber and isolator, reducing heat transfer through low-emissivity surfaces and air gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional insulators or pressure vessels are used to reduce heat transfer, then thermal protection is improved, but system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase change material that transitions from liquid to gas state when exposed to high temperatures. This phase transition absorbs significant thermal energy through latent heat of vaporization, providing effective thermal protection. The material is contained in a lightweight structure without bulky pressure vessels, achieving heat protection while minimizing weight and volume constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the protective material from solid (conventional insulators) to liquid phase change material. This parameter change enables the material to absorb heat through phase transition rather than relying on thick solid insulation layers, thereby reducing system weight and volume while maintaining thermal protection effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional insulators or pressure vessels are used to reduce heat transfer, then thermal protection is improved, but system volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase change material absorbs heat through liquid-to-gas transition within a compact container. This mechanism provides high thermal protection efficiency in a small volume, eliminating the need for bulky pressure vessels or thick insulator layers that would increase system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a pneumatic approach by employing gas-phase venting of the phase change material. The lightweight container allows gas to vent without requiring heavy pressure vessel structures, achieving volume reduction while maintaining thermal protection functionality.
3Use of energy by moving object
If liquid phase change material is used, then thermal absorption is improved, but material containment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent exploits the phase transition from liquid to gas to solve the containment problem. The material is contained in liquid form during normal operation, and the phase transition to gas is controlled through designed venting mechanisms. This approach simplifies containment requirements compared to preventing gas leakage, while maximizing thermal energy absorption through the phase change process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the gas containment requirement by allowing controlled venting of the gas phase. Instead of attempting to contain the gas indefinitely (which would require complex pressure vessels), the system extracts the gas from the containment space after it has performed its thermal absorption function, simplifying the overall device structure.
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
This solution effectively mitigates heat transfer into protected components, reducing the need for bulky structures and enabling thermal management in size- and weight-constrained applications by initially absorbing heat through vaporization and later isolating through low-emissivity air gaps, thus protecting internal components from thermal damage.
Implementation Method 1
liquid phase change material configured to become gaseous phase change material based on thermal energy absorbed by the liquid phase change material
Implementation Method 2
absorbing heat through vaporization
Implementation Method 3
function as both a thermal absorber and isolator, reducing heat transfer through low-emissivity surfaces and air gaps
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes multiple layers of phase-stable material, where adjacent layers of the phase-stable material are separated by multiple spaces. The apparatus also includes liquid phase change material in the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The liquid phase change material is configured to become gaseous phase change material based on thermal energy absorbed by the liquid phase change material. The apparatus further includes at least one release configured to block passage of the liquid phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material. The at least one release is also configured to allow passage of the gaseous phase change material out of the spaces between the adjacent layers of the phase-stable material.