Thermal management techniques for an advanced linear motor in an electric aircraft recovery system

A study was conducted to quantify the thermal characteristics and to determine alternative methods to maintain thermal equilibrium for an advanced linear motor (ALM). The ALM is an essential component in the design and development of the next generation aircraft launch and recovery systems. The development of a thermal management system for the ALM is critical for maximizing the benefits of these new launch and recovery systems. This thermal management study investigated nine current and six novel cooling approaches. The study was funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) through the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division at Lakehurst, NJ. This study focused on an ALM to be utilized in an electric aircraft recovery system. The current technologies studied were forced-air and direct-water cooling, alternative cooling fluids, immersion cooling, heat pipes, phase change materials (PCM), vapor-compression refrigeration, thermoelectric, and Stirling cycle cooling. The six novel concepts studied were Malone refrigeration, pulse tube refrigeration, thermionic cooling, thermoacoustic refrigeration, magnetic refrigeration, and ejector expansion refrigeration. It was determined that direct water-cooling would provide effective cooling in terms of system size, weight, and thermal performance. Estimates for liquid immersion and PCM revealed that these technologies may provide potential cooling solutions, particularly in the moving components. From the list of experimental concepts evaluated, thermionic and magnetic refrigeration were determined to be promising viable technologies.