Advanced military electronics generate significant heat, which requires adequate cooling to ensure sensitive components function optimally. Thermal management of high-power radar and electronic warfare systems typically relies on a mechanical coupling (wedgelock) as the interface between electronic assemblies and cold plates that remove dissipated heat from the electronic components. Current technology for wedgelocks results in less than optimal thermal contact between the cold plate and electronic assembly.
Advanced military electronics generate significant heat, which requires adequate cooling to ensure sensitive components function optimally. Thermal management of high-power radar and electronic warfare systems typically relies on a mechanical coupling (wedgelock) as the interface between electronic assemblies and cold plates that remove dissipated heat from the electronic components. Current technology for wedgelocks results in less than optimal thermal contact between the cold plate and electronic assembly.
To overcome this obstacle, DARPA and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) are sponsoring a challenge to develop and demonstrate a novel field-reversible, low-resistance thermal connector which can more effectively conduct heat from the frame of an electronic module to the wall of the cold plate.
Launched in August 2011, the Field-Reversible Thermal Connector (RevCon) Challenge solicits innovative research proposals from undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in thermal science and engineering. It’s anticipated that student teams will develop their concepts during the fall 2011 semester. Proposals should demonstrate a novel design concept for a field-reversible, low-resistance thermal connector which uses an applied, non-mechanical force to repeatedly assemble and disassemble an electronic module to and from an electronic enclosure, while providing a constant connector thermal resistance.
ONR manages the challenge and provides details on proposal submission, evaluation and selection on this Special Notices page.