Racing Radiators Utilizing ORNL’s Graphite Foam. CRADA Final Report, ORNL-98-0551

Abstract

The recent development of light-weight foams has led to novel light-weight, high strength carbon based materials and structures. These materials exhibit very high specific strengths and low thermal conductivities. Likewise, the novel development of very high thermal conductivity graphite foam will lead to novel ''out-of-the-box'' solutions for thermal management problems. With a thermal conductivity equivalent to aluminum 6061 and 1/5th the weight, this material is an enabling technology for thermal management problems ranging from heat sinks to radiators and satellite panels to aircraft heat exchangers. In addition, the open porosity will lead to novel designs that ncorporate porous media heat exchangers and phase change materials. For example, by utilizing the foam as a heat exchanger, heat transfer coefficients over two orders of magnitude greater than current metallic designs have been measured. To further demonstrate this phenomenon, a heat exchanger (radiator) for a passenger automobile has been developed that is significantly smaller in size, and testing has demonstrated feasibility to improve the automobiles aerodynamic efficiency and reduce weight.