Thermal Management for Avionics & Electronic Systems
Avionics, radar, sensors, and other electronic systems generate heat during operation that must be removed to maintain required operating temperatures. Excessive heat can damage components, reduce service life, and increase the risk of system failure.
Aerospace and Defense systems present additional thermal management challenges because effective cooling must often be achieved within strict space and weight constraints. The appropriate cooling method depends on the heat load, available space, operating environment, and system design.
Liquid Cooling for Avionics & Electronics
Liquid cooling systems transfer heat away from avionics and electronic components by circulating coolant through cold plates or other heat-transfer components. The coolant absorbs heat from the electronics and carries it through the cooling loop, where heat can be removed through a heat exchanger.
Thermostatic valves provide passive flow control within the cooling loop, mixing coolant streams to maintain the required supply temperature or diverting flow through or around a heat exchanger based on cooling demand.
For additional information on liquid cooling for avionics, cooling methods, and thermal actuator operation, download the Thermal Actuator Technology in Avionics Cooling technical article.
How Thermostatic Flow Control Works
ThermOmegaTech® thermostatic mixing and diverting valves use paraffin wax thermal actuators to automatically regulate coolant flow as temperature changes.
In a mixing application, the valve modulates two inlet streams to maintain the required outlet temperature supplied to the electronics.
In a diverting application, the valve directs coolant between two flow paths based on temperature. Coolant can bypass the heat exchanger when cooling is not required and be directed through the heat exchanger as coolant temperature rises to remove excess heat.
Where It’s Used
Avionics & Electronics Cooling Applications
Avionics & Aircraft Electronics Cooling
Regulates coolant temperature in liquid cooling systems for avionics and onboard electronics used in military aircraft, UAVs, and high-altitude surveillance aircraft.
ThermOmegaTech® thermostatic valves have supported electronics liquid cooling applications on F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets, UAVs, and high-altitude surveillance aircraft.
Radar, Sensor & Mission Electronics Cooling
Controls coolant temperature in liquid cooling systems for radar, sensors, surveillance equipment, and other mission electronics to remove excess heat and protect temperature-sensitive components.
Inverter & Power Electronics Cooling
Provides liquid cooling temperature control for inverters used to control battery systems in missile applications and other power electronics.
Benefits of Self-Actuating Thermal Control
- Self-actuating operation: Responds directly to coolant temperature without external power, sensors, or electronic controls.
- Thermostatically controlled: Automatically regulates coolant flow to support mixing or diverting configurations.
- Reliable and low-maintenance: Mechanical operation with minimal moving parts reduces control components and maintenance requirements.
- Compact and lightweight: Valve and cartridge configurations support aerospace cooling systems with limited space and weight.
- Pressure independent: Operation is not affected by system pressure variations.
Avionics & Electronics Cooling Products
ThermOmegaTech® offers off-the-shelf thermostatic mixing and diverting valves and cartridges for avionics and electronics cooling, with additional configurations available for application-specific system requirements.
| Product Title | Industry | |
|---|---|---|
|
M/D Thermostatic Mixing & Diverting Valve | Industrial, Aerospace & Defense |
Discuss Your Avionics and Electronics Cooling Application
Contact our team to discuss your cooling system requirements or complete the Aerospace & Defense Valve Request Form to provide coolant temperature, flow, pressure, connection, material, and other system information for valve selection.