FADEC Thermal Management

ABSTRACT: The Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) controls engine operation. This SBIR Phase II project will develop a thermal management system for the FADEC that includes four components: 1. Active cooling to reject the FADEC waste heat to higher temperature heat sinks, 2. Heat pipes and other devices to reduce the temperature gradients inside the FADEC box, 3. Insulation to reduce the heat in-leak from the environment into the box, and 4. Thermal storage, to store heat at times when it cannot be rejected. The overall goal of the Phase II program will be to design, fabricate and test thermal management systems for both the FADEC and other power electronics boxs. Secondary goals of the Phase II program include developing the thermal storage system, and validate the design with acceleration, shock, and vibration testing. Thermal management systems for the FADEC and electronics box will be designed, fabricated, and tested. BENEFIT: The thermal management system has direct application to cooling the FADEC on current and future fighter aircraft platforms. ACT plans to work with Hamilton Sundstrand Aerospace during the Phase I, II, and III programs to rapidly transition this cooling system from a concept to a product. In addition to the FADEC, there are a number of additional electronics boxes with maximum allowable temperatures only a few degrees above the FADEC. The cooling system developed here can also be applied to these electronics boxes.