Innovative Heat Sink Technology for Application to Aircraft Systems

This Phase I program proposes use of a Heat Exchanger / Reactor (HEX Reactor) to address thermal management challenges for next generation fighter aircraft. In the proposed application, a HEX Reactor converts excess heat energy into storable energy by harnessing the large energy requirements of endothermic decomposition reactions. The HEX Reactor is scalable and may be employed within current cooling systems or tailored specifically for other high thermal load applications. This Phase I program will establish feasibility of this concept. The Phase I OPTION will fabricate and test the concept to experimentally demonstrate its feasibility. The Phase II program will further develop the concept into a detailed system and will mitigate risks identified in the Phase I through testing of prototype devices and component hardware.