Aircraft Avionics Temperature Management Using NISHEX

Aircraft avionics equipment must be cooled 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 avionics bay cooling needs.  Preliminary tests have shown the heat transfer and pressure drop potential of the concept that supports successful application to a range of military aircraft and, in particular, the T-6A aircraft.  Under the proposed Phase I project, the concept will be adapted to the T-6A avionics cooling application of interest; and the performance and cost benefits of the concept will be determined, versus alternative techniques.  In support of this assessment effort, a subscale test article will be built and tested.  These efforts will show the feasibility of the concept for avionics cooling applications of interest. BENEFIT: By implementing the special NISHEX heat exchanger concept, heat exchanger weight, volume, power 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 avionics and associated missions, as a result of better electronics cooling.  Furthermore, the concept can also be adapted to large civilian electronics cooling and even room air conditioner markets.  These applications would result in cost savings to the public of $120 million per year.