Advanced cooling channel structures for enhanced heat dissipation in aerospace

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering 2024-07, Vol.248, p.123346, Article 123346
• Main Authors: Xue, Zhuo, Wang, Peiyan, Yue, Zhufeng, Lian, Chenchen, Zhang, Tao, Gao, Mengke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerospace aircraft; Comprehensive evaluation criteria; Heat dissipation runner structure; Optimization; Pressure loss; Thermal resistance
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.123346

•Develops a thermal insulation analysis model.•Optimize the local structure of the flow channel.•Design 8 types of cooling plates.•Propose a new active thermal protection structural design. Thermal protection is crucial for active cooling runner structures. It’s highly effective for achieving thermal insulation in aerospace applications. This study focuses on evaluating the thermal insulation performance of the heat dissipation runner structure under varying flow rates. The results demonstrate the exceptional thermal insulation capabilities of the heat dissipation runner structure, with a noticeable positive impact on thermal protection through appropriate flow rate increments. A simulation and analysis model for thermal insulation performance is developed and validated against experimental findings. By delving into robust heat transfer theory and turbulence mechanisms, it is observed that the local turning radius and length of the runner exhibit an inverse relationship with the heat dissipation performance of the structure. Through localized optimization of the runner design and implementation of a series–parallel connection mechanism, eight distinct heat dissipation runner structures are meticulously crafted. Analysis of temperature uniformity and flow consistency within the runner structure is conducted using thermal resistance, inlet pressure loss, and comprehensive evaluation criteria. Results underscore the strong thermal insulation performance of the eight runner structures, highlighting a direct correlation between the number of parallel runners and enhanced heat dissipation efficiency, while revealing an inverse correlation with the number of local turns. Notably, at a flow rate of 0.0005 m3/s, the thermal insulation performance of the eight flow channel structures peaks. Furthermore, it is observed that increasing the series connection of the runners only serves to complicate the structural design without significant benefits to heat dissipation. Thus, it is recommended to minimize the series connection direction in the runner design to optimize thermal management effectiveness.