Nanocrystalline Materials to improve Thermoconductivity of Heat Pipes

The solid state power conversion inherent in the Navy's Integrated Power System (IPS) produces heat loads beyond those in today's shipboard electrical distribution systems. The introduction of additional high power systems such as electromagnetic weapons (EMW) and high power radar, together with the heat loads associated with the IPS, will produce heat loads in working spaces approximately 700% greater than those of DDG 51 class ships. In large part, the waste heat is generated in the power semiconductors contained in the power electronics components whose power densities will eventually surpass 1000 W/cm2. Through the development of an advanced coolant with enhanced conductivity and an integrated suspension of phase-change particles, combined with the use of a high performance packaging material, k technology Corporation and Primet Precision MaterialsO propose to develop a solution compatible with current systems and procedures. Through the fabrication and evaluation of a demonstration system, the team will characterize the performance gains. Evaluation materials will also be manufactured and evaluated for thermal conductivity, mass density, and flow characteristics. Heat pipes work on the concept of having a fluid absorb heat through vaporization and then transfer it by condensation to a heat sink. These traditional heat pipes are effective, however they are limited by how much heat the working fluid can carry. Heat pipes using nano-technology phase change fluids combined with the high conductivity composite material k-CoreTM can transport many times the amount of heat as current techniques. In addition, these materials are compatible with current packaging formats. The combined nano-fluid and high conductivity materials represent an enabling technology for high power electronics imperative for the Integrated Power Systems required for emerging naval electric drive systems and electromagnetic launch and recovery systems.