Planar Bridging-Droplet Thermal Diodes

Abstract

Traditional thermal diodes are limited by an inherently 1D form factor (e.g. liquid-trap heat pipes) or by gravitational dependence (e.g. thermos-syphons). Exploratory work demonstrated a thermal diode with jumping-droplet liquid return by utilizing a nanostructured super-hydrophobic condenser, but these condensers are not durable under sustained operation. The PI proposed to develop a fundamentally new type of thermally adaptive material system called a planar bridging-droplet thermal diode, which should be at least 100 times more thermally conductive in one direction compared to the reverse direction and operate independently of gravity and inertia.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Apr 09, 2018
Source ID
FA95501710500

Entities

People

  • Jonathan B Boreyko

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • United States Air Force
  • Virginia Tech

Tags

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics