Thermal Management for Military Aircraft High Performance Electrical Actuation System

ABSTRACT: Aircraft electromechanical actuators are dispersed throughout the aircraft and cannot utilize existing ECS or PTMAS for cooling. They must be cooled by passive thermal management system to maintain component reliability and longevity, particularly in high ambient temperature environments. Conventional cooling approaches fall short of performance, weight, compactness and cost requirements. Altex has identified an advanced air cooling approach that can meet electromechanical actuators cooling needs that are installed inside various aircraft bays. Preliminary tests have shown the heat transfer and pressure drop potential of the concept that supports successful application to a range of military and civil aircraft. Under the proposed Phase I project, the concept will be adapted to a simulated standard military aircraft electromechanical actuator; and the performance and cost benefits of the concept will be determined by classical and numerical analyses and limited laboratory testing. These efforts will show the feasibility of the concept for aircraft electromechanical actuator cooling applications of interest. BENEFIT: By implementing the special NISHEX heat exchanger concept, heat exchanger weight, volume, power consumption and cost would be reduced by approximately 60%, 80%, 67% and 60% respectively, relative to conventional heat exchanger approaches. This will lead to improved reliability and longevity of aircraft electromechanical actuators and associated missions, as a result of better passive thermal management. Furthermore, the concept can also be adapted to large civilian aircraft electromechanical actuator cooling, avionics and cooling, vehicle ECS, and even HVAC markets. These applications would result in cost savings to the public of $300 million per year.