Thermal Management System for Tactical Airborne High Power Laser Applications

An efficient, compact, and lightweight thermal management system (TMS) is needed to enable integration of a 30kW solid-state high-energy laser (SSHEL) system into tactical airborne applications. Ultimately, the TMS should be less than the final design target of 100 lbs and 8 ft3 in volume. Inherent limitations to state-of-the-art technologies must be overcome to meet program goals. Aspen Systems proposes to develop one of two promising system design concepts presented in this proposal. One system (JP5 Concept) transfers heat from a water/glycol-based liquid loop which cools the laser to a jet fuel (JP-5) through a high-performance liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger (HX) which is also very lightweight and compact. This high-performance HX and system is enabled by microchannel surface enhancement geometries which increase thermal transport mechanisms between the fluid and heat exchanger surface material. The other system (Radiator Concept) transfers heat from a water/glycol-based liquid loop which cools the laser to ambient air by means of a high-performance liquid-to-air heat exchanger (HX). However, due to the inherent limitations of the thermal transport properties of air, the HX and air fan/motor contributes to a system which also achieves a weight and size less than final program targets, but to a lesser degree.