Difference between revisions of "Double Heat Sink"
Sarna News
| Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
===Double-Strength Heat Sinks=== | ===Double-Strength Heat Sinks=== | ||
| − | Relying on corrosive liquid metal coolants instead of advanced radiators for efficiency, Double-Strength Heat Sinks were developed by the Federated Suns near the end of the [[Third Succession War]] at the [[Friden Aerospace Park]] research installation on [[Hoff]]. Unlike regular double heat sinks, they could be combined with standard heat sinks at leisure and | + | Relying on corrosive liquid metal coolants instead of advanced radiators for efficiency, Double-Strength Heat Sinks were developed by the Federated Suns near the end of the [[Third Succession War]] at the [[Friden Aerospace Park]] research installation on [[Hoff]]. Unlike regular double heat sinks, they could be combined with standard heat sinks at leisure and were actually used as refit kits, replacing individual regular heat sinks. In this, they were plainly superior to regular double heat sinks, sharing none of their drawbacks.<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 40-42, 47</ref> (It remains unclear whether or not they could be mounted in the engine.) However, they were too brittle and hard to maintain for more than a few years' worth of function. |
| − | When the [[Draconis Combine]] invaded Hoff in [[3022]], some 'Mechs among the defenders were equipped with functional prototypes but they are believed to have been destroyed in the fighting. Neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine ever used these exact same Double-Strength Heat Sinks again after the battles on Hoff. | + | When the [[Draconis Combine]] invaded Hoff in [[3022]], some 'Mechs among the defenders were equipped with functional prototypes of this type but they are believed to have been destroyed in the fighting. Neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine ever used these exact same Double-Strength Heat Sinks again after the battles on Hoff. |
===Corrosive Coolant Experimental Double Heat Sinks=== | ===Corrosive Coolant Experimental Double Heat Sinks=== | ||
Revision as of 08:30, 8 October 2011
Contents
Description
Double Heat Sinks, often abbreviated DHS and colloquially also referred to as Freezers throughout the Inner Sphere after their NAIS codename[1], operate in much the same way and for the same purpose as standard heat sinks. The difference is that a double heat sink offers twice the heat dissipation capacity of a standard heat sink, for the same mass (one ton).
Their drawback is that they are three times as bulky as a standard heat sink (unless integrated into a fusion engine).
The advanced Clan version is smaller, only twice the size of a standard heat sink.
Also, double heat sinks are normally incompatible with standard heat sinks. A given unit must therefore be equipped exclusively with either standard or double heat sinks, though exceptions are known.[2]
The benefits of doubled heat dissipation capacity usually outweigh the drawbacks and by 3058 almost every 'Mech model was equipped or retrofitted with double heat sinks.
History
Introduced in 2567 by the Terran Hegemony[3], double heat sinks were commonly available during the time of the Star League but became Lostech over the course of the Succession Wars. Although the technology was essentially extinct after 2865[3], it apparently remained in use in some individual cases.
By the early 31st century, double heat sink technology was on the verge of rediscovery. The Federated Suns had a double heat sink project in its prototype stages by 3022, and in 3030, towards the end of the Fourth Succession War, the Capellan Confederation already fielded their BJ-3 Blackjack variant[4], the first regular design sporting double heat sinks in decades if not centuries.
Following the discovery of the Helm Memory Core and the subsequent dissemination of lost Star League knowledge throughout the Inner Sphere in 3028, double heat sinks gradually became a staple of 'Mech construction again and were extensively used in retrofits and new designs. The NAIS had double heat sinks ready for serial production in 3041.[1][5]
Non-standard subtypes
Besides the normal Star League era double heat sinks used throughout the Inner Sphere and the advanced Clan version, a number of experimental or prototype technologies existed at various times with slightly different capabilities. However, it should be noted that none of these proved viable for mass production or deployment.
Double-Strength Heat Sinks
Relying on corrosive liquid metal coolants instead of advanced radiators for efficiency, Double-Strength Heat Sinks were developed by the Federated Suns near the end of the Third Succession War at the Friden Aerospace Park research installation on Hoff. Unlike regular double heat sinks, they could be combined with standard heat sinks at leisure and were actually used as refit kits, replacing individual regular heat sinks. In this, they were plainly superior to regular double heat sinks, sharing none of their drawbacks.[6] (It remains unclear whether or not they could be mounted in the engine.) However, they were too brittle and hard to maintain for more than a few years' worth of function.
When the Draconis Combine invaded Hoff in 3022, some 'Mechs among the defenders were equipped with functional prototypes of this type but they are believed to have been destroyed in the fighting. Neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine ever used these exact same Double-Strength Heat Sinks again after the battles on Hoff.
Corrosive Coolant Experimental Double Heat Sinks
In the late 3030s, the nascent Federated Commonwealth deployed another kind of experimental double heat sinks with corrosive liquid metal coolants. Obviously developed from the prototypes deployed on Hoff, they could also be combined with regular heat sinks but could not be mounted in the engine, and were three times as big (although still had the same mass)[5][7]. Like their predecessors, maintenance problems meant they decayed within only a few years and were unsuitable for widespread deployment, although they did give the Federated Commonwealth a brief advantage in its early days[3].
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 20 Year Update, p. 72
- ↑ The Super Griffin and field refits using suitable prototype double heat sinks have been known to combine regular and double heat sinks
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Starterbook: Sword and Dragon, p. 57
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 144
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 145
- ↑ Tales of the Black Widow Company, pp. 40-42, 47
- ↑ Starterbook: Sword and Dragon, p. 58