Thermo-design and optimization of microchannel cooling plates for high-power radar systems
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv12n2-059Keywords:
KIPCO, radar, CFD, microchannel, cooling thermalAbstract
Next-generation warfare assets, including Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, Electro-Optical Targeting Systems (EOTS), and Land Combat System avionics, face unprecedented thermal loads. Power densities for these systems now frequently exceed hundreds of W/cm² while operating under strict SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) constraints. Microchannel cooling systems are critical for effective thermal management of high-power radar transmit/receive (T/R) modules. This analysis presents a combined analytical, numerical, and design optimization study of a water-cooled microchannel plate. Pressure drop and outlet temperature are evaluated using classical fluid mechanics and energy balance principles and validated through CFD simulation. Furthermore, channel geometry optimization and an AI-enabled condition-based are proposed to enhance thermal performance, reliability, and lifecycle efficiency.
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