Patent — available for licensing
Thermal Management for Aircraft Propulsion Systems
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Innovators at NASA's Glenn Research Center have developed a lightweight, reliable thermal management system, for both ambient and cryogenic propulsion systems, that increases overall fuel efficiency from 40 to 60 percent. Conventional aircraft propulsion systems struggle to keep high-powered electric motors and electronics cool without resorting to extra mass and complexity that negate the benefits of electric propulsion in aircraft. Glenn's thermal management system uses the normally wasted energy from turbofan propulsion to cool electronics and power equipment. The waste heat produces a high-intensity acoustic wave, created from the temperature gradient between the hot and cold heat exchangers. This acoustic wave energy propagates through thermoacoustic power tubes, where it can be used for component cooling or converted to electric power via a linear alternator. Glenn's system can provide highly efficient electric power to aircraft components while cooling the aircraft's propulsion system without added mass and complexity.