Nanotube Enhanced Spray Cooling for Laser Thermal Management

Planned single-phase thermal management system designs for high average power solid state lasers will result in thermal systems that are 20x larger and 10x heavier than the laser itself. A two-phase thermal management system, based on Mainstream's patented spray cooling technology and high-efficiency compressor technology, has the potential to reduce thermal system size, mass, and power consumption by 87%, 65%, and 65%, respectively. Through an internal research and development program, Mainstream has experimentally demonstrated an innovative nucleation and surface wetting enhancement that has the potential to reduce thermal system power consumption by 18% over conventional spray cooling. In Phase I, Mainstream will experimentally demonstrate the improved spray cooling technique. The results will be used to design a complete closed-loop thermal management system for high average power solid-state lasers. The improved system will exceed DARPA's goals for size, mass, and power by 23%, 3%, and 28%, respectively.