Design and performance analysis of an airborne miniature vapor compression refrigerator for extreme temperature environments

IF 6.1 2区工程技术 Q2 ENERGY & FUELS

Applied Thermal Engineering Pub Date : 2025-05-11 DOI:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.126793

Xinzhu Mou , Yexiang Li , Hao Zhong , Sheng Xu , Jingyang Zhang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

High-performance aircraft encounter dynamic temperature fluctuations during missions, necessitating reliable thermal management systems. This study presents a miniature vapor compression refrigeration (MVCR) system designed for high-performance aircraft, which are subjected to extreme temperature variations during missions. The MVCR system is crucial for maintaining the reliability of onboard precision components, such as infrared detectors and high-power electronics, under harsh conditions. Addressing the limitations of existing systems, such as large size and low performance, this paper introduces a compact, lightweight MVCR system with dimensions of 350 mm × 200 mm × 100 mm and a weight of 2 kg. It delivers a cooling capacity of over 150 W and a coefficient of performance (COP) of 1.76, ensuring effective temperature control in extreme environments (-20 to 70 °C). The study investigates the effects of compressor speed, thermal load, and ambient temperature on the system’s performance, analysing both steady and transient cooling processes. The reliability and temperature control capabilities of MVCR system are evaluated across a wide temperature range, with a focus on elevated and extreme conditions. Control strategies are developed to optimize temperature regulation under varying environmental temperatures, and their effectiveness is validated through experiments. The results confirm the system’s ability to maintain equipment temperatures within operational limits under diverse thermal loads and ambient conditions. This study offers pivotal insights into ensuring the reliable operation of temperature-sensitive equipment within complex thermal environments, specifically catering to the needs of aerospace and refrigeration industries.

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一种适用于极端温度环境的机载微型蒸汽压缩制冷机的设计与性能分析

高性能飞机在执行任务时遇到动态温度波动，需要可靠的热管理系统。本研究提出了一种小型蒸汽压缩制冷（MVCR）系统，该系统专为高性能飞机设计，用于在执行任务时承受极端温度变化。MVCR系统对于在恶劣条件下保持机载精密部件（如红外探测器和大功率电子设备）的可靠性至关重要。针对现有系统体积大、性能低的局限性，本文介绍了一种尺寸为350 mm × 200 mm × 100 mm、重量为2 kg的紧凑、轻便的MVCR系统。其制冷量可达150w以上，COP （coefficient of performance）高达1.76，可在极端环境（-20 ~ 70℃）下有效控制温度。该研究调查了压缩机转速、热负荷和环境温度对系统性能的影响，分析了稳态和瞬态冷却过程。MVCR系统的可靠性和温度控制能力在很宽的温度范围内进行了评估，重点是在高温和极端条件下。研究了不同环境温度下的温度调节策略，并通过实验验证了控制策略的有效性。测试结果证实，该系统能够在不同的热负荷和环境条件下将设备温度保持在运行范围内。这项研究为确保在复杂热环境中温度敏感设备的可靠运行提供了关键的见解，特别是满足航空航天和制冷行业的需求。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Thermal Engineering 工程技术-工程：机械

CiteScore

11.30

自引率

15.60%

发文量

1474

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： Applied Thermal Engineering disseminates novel research related to the design, development and demonstration of components, devices, equipment, technologies and systems involving thermal processes for the production, storage, utilization and conservation of energy, with a focus on engineering application. The journal publishes high-quality and high-impact Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Short Communications and Letters to the Editor on cutting-edge innovations in research, and recent advances or issues of interest to the thermal engineering community.