Semi-passive cooling using hierarchical vasculature
AssigneeLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
InventorsJames T. Cahill, Swetha Chandrasekaran, Wyatt L. Du Frane, Joshua D. Kuntz, Richard L. Landingham, Ryan Lu, Christopher M. Spadaccini, Amy Wat, Seth E. Watts, Marcus A Worsley
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Abstract
A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to a fluid flow utilizes a hierarchical vasculature and a sacrificial transpirant to cool the component. The component includes a body that defines a transpirant reservoir and the hierarchical vasculature. The transpirant is configured to transition between a solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.
Claims20
A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to fluid flow and heat flux, comprising:
- a body defining:
- an outer surface,
- a transpirant reservoir, and
- a hierarchical vasculature communicating with, and extending from, the transpirant reservoir, and through at least a portion of the outer surface, to communicate with the outer surface of the body;
- and
- a sacrificial transpirant disposed in the transpirant reservoir in a solid phase, wherein the transpirant is configured to transition between the solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.
A semi-passive cooling system for a component exposed to a fluid flow and aerodynamic heating, comprising:
- a body defining an outer surface, a transpirant reservoir, and a hierarchical vasculature extending between the transpirant reservoir and at least a portion of the outer surface, and being coupled to the transpirant reservoir and extending therefrom, wherein the hierarchical vasculature intersects and communicates with the outer surface at a plurality of outlets;
- and
- a sacrificial transpirant disposed in the transpirant reservoir in a solid phase, wherein the transpirant is configured to transition between the solid phase and a vapor phase over a temperature gradient extending over the hierarchical vasculature caused by the aerodynamic heating,
- wherein the outlets are located so that a capillary pressure of a liquid phase of the transpirant at the outlets is greater than a fluid pressure exerted on the outer surface by the fluid flow to drive the liquid phase out through the at least a portion of the outer surface.
A method of making a semi-passive cooling system in a component, comprising:
- forming a body from a first material, the body including a transpirant reservoir and an outer surface, wherein the body defines a hierarchical vasculature extending between the transpirant reservoir and the outer surface, and the hierarchical vasculature is coupled to the transpirant reservoir and extends therefrom, and communicates with the outer surface of the body, and
- filling the transpirant reservoir with a sacrificial transpirant in a solid phase, wherein the transpirant is configured to transition between the solid phase and a vapor phase over an operating temperature range of the component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.