Split Liquid Heat Exchanger for Compact Laser Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser cooling techniques face challenges in managing high thermal densities within compact packaging, leading to thermal excursions and performance issues in tight spaces as power requirements increase.
Innovation Solution
A split liquid cooled heat exchanger system with thermoelectric cooling, featuring two thermally isolated yet serially connected heat exchangers, provides precise temperature control for pump diode arrays and gain media, utilizing thermoelectric coolers and temperature sensing devices to manage high thermal loads in a compact form factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional laser cooling techniques are used with increased power requirements, then cooling capacity is improved, but packaging volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into two separate heat exchangers (first and second liquid cooled heat exchangers) that are thermally isolated but serially connected. Each heat exchanger handles specific thermal loads independently, allowing for compact integration while maintaining high cooling capacity for the overall system.
2Volume of stationary object
If compact packaging is used to reduce volume, then packaging density is improved, but thermal management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the thermal management into two separate heat exchangers with dedicated cooling paths, the system can handle high thermal densities in compact spaces without suffering from thermal excursions. Each heat exchanger is optimized for its specific thermal load, preventing heat accumulation and temperature runaway.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoelectric coolers provide localized precise temperature control for the pump diode arrays, while the liquid cooling system handles the bulk thermal management. This local quality approach ensures critical components maintain stable temperatures even in compact packaging.
3Manufacturing precision
If thermoelectric coolers are added for precise temperature control, then temperature regulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Thermoelectric coolers are applied selectively only to the pump diode arrays that require precise temperature control, rather than throughout the entire system. This localized application achieves the necessary temperature regulation precision while minimizing the added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoelectric coolers are integrated with the liquid cooled heat exchanger structure, combining two cooling mechanisms into a unified system that shares common mounting infrastructure and fluid pathways, thereby reducing overall complexity.
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 system effectively manages high thermal densities, maintaining optical stability and reducing thermal gradients, allowing for higher power densities in a compact volume while ensuring precise temperature regulation and efficient cooling, even in advanced tactical platforms with limited power and cooling capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of thermoelectric coolers, each for precise independent thermal control of a pump diode array
Implementation Method 2
a first liquid cooled heat exchanger in fluid connection with a laser cooling system inlet; a second liquid cooled heat exchanger in fluid connection with the first liquid cooled heat exchanger and with a laser cooling system outlet; the first and second liquid cooled heat exchangers being thermally isolated via structure yet sharing a serial fluid path
Implementation Method 3
a pair of heat spreaders for mounting a pair of pump diode arrays in fluid connection with the first liquid cooled heat exchanger; the pair of gain medium, comprising crystals and crystal mount heat spreaders, in fluid connection with the second liquid cooled heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The system and method for cooling a laser using a split liquid cooled heat exchanger. The temperature of coolant entering the system is applied to a portion of the system most in need of lower temperatures and a second heat exchanger uses the outflow from the first heat exchanger to cool a remaining portion of the system that has a tolerance for higher temperatures. The laser cooling system is compact, e.g., less than 45 cubic inches and can handle thermal loads of about 800 W.