Novel Cooling System for Laser Enclosure

We propose to utilize a laser 3D printing manufacturing technique to realize an ultra high efficiency micro-channel laser head cooling system with high thermal load capacity in a small volume package. The new approach incorporates key technical innovations that drastically increase the forced water flow interaction surface area and the metal thermal conductivity. The approach enables conformal geometry that permits the laser cooling system to be designed around available space in the equipment bay. The proposed novel compact laser head cooling system with unprecedented efficiency will enable both future and current aircraft laser systems to occupy the smallest volume possible, and acquire, transport, and reject waste heat from the laser systems. The viability of the proposed design will be demonstrated by a 3D additively printed laser cooling head coupled with a commercial water chiller compressor. This laboratory prototype is scaled-down in the Phase I version. A completed system that meets all the requirements will be built and extensively tested in Phase II.