Thermal storage for high load short duration cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Directed energy weapons (DEWs) generate significant heat during operation, leading to oversized and inefficient thermal management systems due to thermal transients, which are inefficient and heavy, posing challenges for onboard component protection.
Innovation Solution
A closed loop vapor compression thermal management system with an adjustable expansion valve and thermal storage devices, optimized for different operational modes of the DEW, allowing for controlled flow of thermal management fluid to manage heat effectively during both charging and firing modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the thermal management system is sized to handle peak cooling loads during firing mode, then the DEW can be effectively cooled during high-demand operation, but the system becomes significantly oversized, heavy, and inefficient for normal operating modes
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion valve is made adjustable with multiple positions (first position for charging mode, second position for firing mode) to dynamically control fluid flow rates. This allows the thermal management system to adapt its cooling capacity to match the actual thermal load, preventing oversizing while maintaining adequate cooling during peak demand
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter of the thermal management fluid based on operational mode. During firing mode, a higher flow rate provides maximum cooling capacity, while during charging or quiescent modes, a lower flow rate reduces system size and weight requirements, eliminating the need to design for peak load only
2Temperature
If the thermal management system operates continuously at high cooling capacity, then the DEW is adequately cooled during firing, but the system becomes inefficient during quiescent periods when little or no cooling is required
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable expansion valve enables dynamic operation of the thermal management system by switching between different flow rate positions. During firing mode, the valve opens to provide high cooling capacity; during quiescent modes, the valve closes or reduces flow to minimize energy consumption, maintaining system efficiency across varying operational demands
Solution Approach 2:
The system operates in periodic cycles corresponding to the DEW's operational pattern - high cooling capacity during brief firing bursts, followed by reduced or minimal operation during longer quiescent intervals. This periodic adjustment of cooling capacity matches the intermittent thermal load, preventing continuous high-power operation and reducing energy loss
3Temperature
If the expansion valve maintains a constant open position, then the thermal management fluid flows continuously providing constant cooling, but the system cannot efficiently respond to thermal transients between charging and firing modes
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion valve transitions from a static constant-position design to a dynamic adjustable design with distinct positions for different operational modes. This allows the system to rapidly respond to thermal transients by switching valve positions based on whether the DEW is in charging or firing mode, improving both thermal control accuracy and system responsiveness
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 efficiently manages thermal loads by optimizing fluid flow and storage, reducing system size and weight, while ensuring effective cooling during high-demand firing modes and minimizing unnecessary cooling during quiescent periods.
Implementation Method 1
The evaporator is in thermal communication with the directed energy weapon
Implementation Method 2
The thermal management fluid received within the first thermal storage device is a liquid and the thermal management fluid received within the second thermal storage device is a vapor
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system for a directed energy weapon includes a closed loop vapor compression system through which a thermal management fluid circulates. The vapor compression system including an expansion valve and an evaporator. The directed energy weapon is arranged in thermal communication with the evaporator. The expansion valve is adjustable to control a flow of the thermal management fluid provided to the evaporator in response to a mode of operation of the directed energy weapon.