On Thermal Design Of Active Phased Array Antennas Coldplate With S-Type And Z-Type Channels

Thermal design of APAA(Active Phased Array Antenna)has become an importantpart in its integrated design. Because of the distribution of thousands of T/R moduleson antenna array, which will causes narrow spaces and high flux on array, the heatgenerated by components cannot be dissipated immediately so that the heat gather andthe temperature of array increases continuously, as a result, the performance of T/Rmodule will decrease, furthermore, the electric performance of APAA may beworsened. The thermal design of APAA encounters great challenges because of theproblems above. APAA heat dissipation depends on coldplate at present, however, theproblems of design of coldplate still exist, in addition, the problem that the dissipationof coldplate cannot meet the needs of T/R module has became a significant part andcrucial part in thermal design of APAA. On the basis of state-of-the-art domestic andforeigner coldplate research, this paper gives a novel coldplate of S-type channel andZ-type channel and analyses the heat transfer characteristics of both types by use oftheory and simulation analysis.By the design of S-type channel and Z-type channel coldplate, this paper realizes thethermal control of T/R module. The analyzing process of S-type channel coldplate is asfollows: at first, based on the distribution of thermal components of T/R module,confirming design the topology of S-type channel and checkinging the maximumtemperature and pressure drop; building the FEM model of four-channel T/R modulein different channel width, determining3.5mm as the best size; then simulating S-typechannel by using different concentration of ethylene glycol in3.5mm-width,determining65%as the best concentration; finally, building the FEM model ofdifferent wavy shapes and in65%-concentration and in3.5mm-width, determining themicrochannel as the best shape. The analyzing process of Z-type channel coldplate isas follows: at first, based on the distribution of thermal components of T/R module,designing the corresponding topology structure of traditional Z-type channel coldplate,pointing out its drawbacks by simulation analysis, what s more, giving three noveltypes of Z-type channel coldplate, determining the stepped-inlet-stepped-outlet inmicrochannel as the best kind. Additionally, a novel design method of Z-type channelcoldplate is presented in this paper to prove the high heat dissipation capacity of Z-typechannel coldplate in various distribution of heat components. By the design and simulation of S-type channel and Z-type channel coldplate, this paper offers referencesfor channel structural design of APAA, and the research is of important engineeringvalue.