Compact Thermal Management System for Laser Systems

The use of laser technologies and high-power electronics is rapidly being incorporated into tactical platforms for imaging, target designation, and range finding. Electronic equipment including lasers demand power from a tactical aircraft and produce large amounts of thermal energy as a waste product. Current thermal management technologies will not be sufficient for future aircraft as thermal management of the high-power electronic equipment has become challenging and will become even more challenging as the heat loads continue to increase. As such, innovative thermal management technologies must be developed to keep pace with the increasing thermal demands and allow tactical aircraft to effectively perform their missions. Development of novel thermal management methods will be a lynch pin for incorporating high-energy electronics and lasers on future and current aircraft. Carbon dioxide has advantages as a working fluid in vapor compression cycle with higher specific heat and much higher volumetric heat density. The higher volumetric heat density reduces the size of the components such as the condenser, evaporator and compressor, resulting in improved size, weight, power and performance. A carbon dioxide vapor compression cycle is being proposed for its flexibility in operation, ability to be expanded, and volumetric reduction of potentially 80%.