Compact Thermal Energy Storage

OUSD (R&E) MODERNIZATION PRIORITY: General Warfighting Requirements (GWR);Hypersonics TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons OBJECTIVE: Develop a compact thermal energy storage device. DESCRIPTION: The latest version of the Department of Defense's Anti-Radiation Homing Missile (AARGM-ER) must store the thermal energy generated by its electronics on board during its mission. The current energy storage device concept utilizes wax in an aluminum container. This concept consumes a lot of space within the guidance section and the control section of the missile. The current Thermal Protection System in the Guidance Section requires 267 in.3 (678.18 cm3) and in the Control Section requires 119 in.3 (302.26 cm3). The Navy requires that the space consumed by these devices be reduced by no less than one half. These devices are configured to surround the electronics packages and may require an asymmetric shape. The devices together must be able to absorb 156 Btu/min and maintain an electronic package's surface temperature at no more than 85 C for a duration of 5 minutes or more. The combined weight of the devices cannot exceed 21.75 lb. (9.86 kg). The devices must be reusable and rapidly regenerated if they absorb energy during captive carriage of the missile. It is desired that the devices require no consumables and do not require preventative maintenance. The Navy seeks a unique and innovative approach to reduce the size of the current energy storage device in the guidance and control sections while maintaining the identified temperature and weight parameters. Analysis and/or modeling are approaches that may be used to validate the ability of this unique/innovative approach to achieve the size reduction while maintaining the temperature and weight parameters. PHASE I: Develop, design, and demonstrate the feasibility, through analysis and/or modeling, of a device to absorb the required thermal energy within the required size. For additional information please refer to MIL-STD-810 for fighter aircraft environments. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Design, test and demonstrate a device that will work within a missile guidance and control type structure, environment, and mission profile. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Design and demonstrate a device that will work within a missile guidance and control type structure, environment, mission profile and different asymmetric designs while adapting and accommodating different electronic packages. Transition the technology to applicable naval platforms. The technology could be used within any electronic enclosure exposed or generating high temperatures to reduce its thermal footprint. REFERENCES: Greene, E. E. (2013, July 29). Thermal protection and control [Internship Final Report, University of Nebraska-Lincoln]. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20140002341/downloads/20140002341.pdf. Marongiu, M. (2019, March 6). Thermal management of electronic equipment using phase change materials (PCMs). Electronics COOLING. https://www.electronics-cooling.com/2019/03/thermal-management-of-electronic-equipment-using-phase-change-materials-pcms/. Wang, Y., Gao, X., Chen, P., Huang, Z., Xu, T., Fang, Y., & Zhang, Z. (2016, March). Preparation and thermal performance of paraffin/Nano-SiO2 nanocomposite for passive thermal protection of electronic devices, 96, 699-707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.11.106. KEYWORDS: Thermal management; Reduced Footprint; No preventative maintenance; Missile; Thermal Energy; Thermal Protection