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The effects of elevated acceleration fields on spray cooling heat transfer are discussed in this paper. Spray cooling has proven to be one of the most efficient methods of heat removal. This technology is being transitioned into more advanced applications, such as fighter aircraft that must withstand a wide range of variable acceleration-induced body forces. Heat transfer associated with closed-loop spray cooling will be affected by acceleration body forces, the extent of which is not yet known. To test these various effects, an eight-foot-diameter centrifuge table will be outfitted with a spray cooling system to test for the effects associated with elevated gravity.

General thermodynamic analytical investigations on the primary components of aircraft power systems, as well as vehicle integration and mission considerations, have revealed that thermal management plays a key role in limiting payload size and performance. All power system components such as batteries, capacitors, power semiconductors, generators, pulsed power sources and beam conditioners have thermal design issues when their performance is pushed to deliver higher powers. Several technology driven thermal challenges need to be addressed in the development of these envisioned aircraft based weapon power systems. High power and high heat flux cooling requirements, coupled with a limited payload capacity, is one of the primary design challenges tackled in the development of this type of power system.