Difference between revisions of "Double Heat Sink"
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'''Double Heat Sinks''', often abbreviated '''DHS''' and colloquially referred to as "freezers" throughout the [[Inner Sphere]], operate in much the same way and for the same purpose as regular [[heat sink]]s. The difference is that a Double Heat Sink offers twice the heat dissipation capacity of a standard heat sink, while being two ([[Clan]] version) to three times (Inner Sphere version) as bulky. They can only be mounted on [[BattleMech]]s and [[Aerospace Fighter]]s and are incompatible with standard heat sinks; a given unit must be equipped exclusively with either standard or Double Heat Sinks.
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== Description ==
 +
'''Double Heat Sinks''', often abbreviated '''DHS''' and colloquially also referred to as '''Freezers''' throughout the [[Inner Sphere]] after their [[NAIS]] codename,<ref name="20YUp72">''20 Year Update'', p. 72: "Military Technology Review"</ref> operate in much the same way and for the same purpose as standard [[heat sink]]s. 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).
  
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Introduced in [[2567]] by the [[Terran Hegemony]], 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]], it apparently remained in use in some individual cases. Rumours abound that the [[Bounty Hunter]]'s ''[[Marauder]]'' and a handful individual [[BattleMech]]s from [[Wolf's Dragoons]] may have been equipped with Double Heat Sinks.
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Their drawback is that they are much bulkier than a standard heat sink (unless integrated into a [[fusion engine]]). The advanced [[Clan]] version is twice the size of a standard heat sink; [[Star League era]] double heat sinks and those later developed by the Inner Sphere are three times as bulky as a standard heat sink.
  
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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 have gradually become a staple of 'Mech construction again and were extensively used in retrofits and new designs. The [[Capellan Confederation]] already fielded their ''BJ-3'' variant of the ''[[Blackjack]]'' in the [[Fourth Succession War]], the first regular design sporting Double Heat Sinks in decades if not centuries. The [[NAIS]] had Double Heat Sinks ready for serial production in [[3041]].
+
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.<ref>The ''[[Super Griffin]]'' and field refits using suitable prototype double heat sinks have been known to combine regular and double heat sinks</ref>
  
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The benefits far outweight the risks and by [[3058]] almost every 'Mech model was equipped or retrofitted with Double Heat Sinks.
+
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. In general, the lighter 'Mechs have trouble making use of all available pod space, making the bulk issue meaningless. The heaviest 'Mechs are less limited by tonnage and more limited by pod space. That said, the benefits of "free" double heat sinks in the engine usually outweighs that tradeoff anyway.
  
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===Double-strength heat sinks===
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== History ==
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The secrets behind the production of Double Heat Sinks were already being rediscovered near the end of the [[Third Succession War]] by the [[Federated Suns]], who maintained a research department at the [[Friden AeroSpace Park]] on [[Hoff]]. When the [[Draconis Combine]] invaded Hoff in [[3022]], some 'Mechs among the defenders were equipped with functional prototype heat sinks called "Double-strength heat sinks" that could be combined with regular heat sinks, yet dissipated twice as much heat for the same item mass and size. However, neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine ever used these again after the battles on Hoff; it must therefore be assumed that either the blueprints were lost over the course of the fighting, or that production later proved impossible or not feasible for other reasons.
+
Introduced as a prototype in [[2567]] by the [[Terran Hegemony]].<ref name="SB:SDp57">''Starterbook: Sword and Dragon'', p. 57: "Double Heat Sinks"</ref><ref name="IOp71">''Interstellar Operations'', p. 71: "Double Heat Sinks"</ref> Prototype versions of this heat sink functioned as normal, except designers hadn't figured out how to place the double heat sink inside the engine the same as standard heat sinks could be placed. This resulted in some "hybrid sinks" (single sinks in the fusion engine, double sinks used on the hull) being used on some 'Mechs until the production variant was released, with double sinks being included with applicable fusion engines.<ref name="IOp71"/> Double heat sinks were commonly available during the [[Star League era]] but became [[Lostech]] over the course of the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]]. Although the technology was essentially extinct after [[2865]]<ref name="SB:SDp57"/> and standard (single) heat sinks became the norm as they were the only ones still available, double heat sinks remained in use in some individual cases.
  
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In the late 3030s, the nascent [[Federated Commonwealth]] deployed more compact experimental Double Heat Sinks which were based on corrosive liquid metal coolants instead of advanced radiators for efficiency, possibly stemming from the research on Hoff. However, it was found that they were too fragile and hard to maintain for more than a few years' worth of effective function.
+
By the early [[thirty-first 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]] with individual samples built into operative BattleMechs, and in [[3030]], towards the end of the [[Fourth Succession War]], the [[Capellan Confederation]] already fielded their BJ-3 ''Blackjack'' variant,<ref name="H:Wo3039p144+">''Historical: War of 3039'', pp. 144–145: "Rules Annex - Double Heat Sinks (Freezers)"</ref> the first regular 'Mech design sporting double heat sinks in decades if not centuries. (Although it is not generally known, the Confederation did not develop double heat sinks themselves; the Federated Suns had prototypes manufactured in the Lyran Commonwealth and a Capellan agent was able to siphon a share of the production off to the Confederation.<ref name=Prop>''Proprietary''</ref>)
  
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==Associated rules==
+
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]].<ref name="20YUp72"/><ref name="H:Wo3039p144+"/>
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In game terms, a double heat sink counteracts two points of heat instead of one while retaining its mass of one ton.
 
  
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The drawbacks of double heat sinks are that they are more expensive than a standard model and that those which are not built into the reactor (i.e. only those that do occupy critical hit slots) occupy more room: Three slots for Star League/Inner Sphere double heat sinks, while a [[Clan]] one takes up only two slots (as opposed to a single slot for a standard heat sink). They cannot usually be installed on vehicles, although exceptions are known.
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== Models ==
 +
The Double Heat Sink is manufactured on the following planets:
  
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The Double-strength heat sink prototypes fielded by the Federated Suns on Hoff had special rules given in the scenario book, [[Tales of the Black Widow Company]], that applied only for the duration of the Hoff campaign. They could be combined with standard heat sinks and were available as an upgrade or replacement to individual (standard) heat sinks. Like standard heat sinks, they occupied only one critical slot. They were never available outside of that single campaign's scenarios, and circumstancial evidence suggests all Federates Suns 'Mechs so equipped were destroyed.
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{|class="wikitable sortable" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
 +
! Brand
 +
! Planet
 +
! Company
 +
! Used by
 +
! References
 +
|-
 +
| [[Adams OA-34]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
| <ref name=MC2E>MechCommander 2, Encyclopedia</ref>
 +
|-
 +
| [[Kong Advanced Coolant TR-12]]
 +
| [[Connaught]]
 +
| [[Kong Interstellar Corporation]]
 +
| ''[[Ostsol]]''
 +
| <ref name=OR123>''Objective Raids'', p. 123: "Produced Kong Interstellar Corporation Components"</ref>
 +
|}
  
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==References==
+
== Nonstandard subtypes ==
−
*[[Tales of the Black Widow Company]], pp. 40-42, 47
+
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.
−
*[[Starterbook: Sword and Dragon]], p. 57
+
 
−
[[Category:Technology]]
+
=== Prototype Double Heat Sinks ===
 +
The prototype double heat sinks developed in the closing years of the [[Age of War]] and in the period between the discovery of the Helm Memory Core and the reintroduction of the standard double heat sink shared almost identical characteristics with each other. Functionally, these prototypes were identical to standard double heat sink, with the following exceptions: firstly, prototype double heat sink couldn't be mounted in engines.<ref name="H:RWp179">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 179: "Double Heat Sinks (DHS-P)"</ref><ref name="H:WO3039p144">''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 144: "Double Heat Sinks (Freezers)"</ref> Secondly, the prototype double heat sink in use in the mid-[[thirty-first century]] could be combined with single heat sinks when used in [[BattleMech]]s,<ref name="H:WO3039p144"/> while the prototype double heat sink in use during the [[Reunification War]] could be combined with single heat sinks in any combat unit that could mount double heat sinks.<ref name="H:RWp179"/>
 +
 
 +
=== 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]] as part of [[Project Phoenix]]. 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: "Battle for Hoff Scenario II-III/Battle for Hoff Scenario IV"</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 of this type but they are believed to have been destroyed in the fighting. As far as can be determined, neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine ever used these exact same Double-Strength Heat Sinks again after the battles on Hoff.
 +
 
 +
Following the sacking of their facility at Hoff, the Federated Suns found they lacked the industrial capacity to resume production of the prototypes. They approached various [[Lyran Commonwealth]] firms to build components which were brought together at [[Hesperus II]] where [[Kincaid Defiance Industries]] assembled them and secretly shipped them to [[New Avalon]] from ca. [[3026]] onwards.<ref name=Prop/> The Capellan Confederation obtained a share of these prototypes through an agent.<ref name=Prop/>
 +
 
 +
=== 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.<ref name="H:Wo3039p144+/><ref name="SB:SDp58">''Starterbook: Sword and Dragon'', p. 58: "Prototype Weapons and Equipment Table"</ref> 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.<ref name="SB:SDp57"/>
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
== Bibliography ==
 +
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
 +
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
 +
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
 +
* ''[[MechCommander 2]]'' (video game)
 +
* ''[[Proprietary]]'' (short story)
 +
* ''[[Starterbook: Sword and Dragon]]''
 +
* ''[[Tales of the Black Widow Company]]''
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category: Technology|Double Heat Sink]]
 +
[[Category:Heat Management]]

Latest revision as of 22:29, 14 April 2023

Description[edit]

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 much bulkier than a standard heat sink (unless integrated into a fusion engine). The advanced Clan version is twice the size of a standard heat sink; Star League era double heat sinks and those later developed by the Inner Sphere are three times as bulky as 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. In general, the lighter 'Mechs have trouble making use of all available pod space, making the bulk issue meaningless. The heaviest 'Mechs are less limited by tonnage and more limited by pod space. That said, the benefits of "free" double heat sinks in the engine usually outweighs that tradeoff anyway.

History[edit]

Introduced as a prototype in 2567 by the Terran Hegemony.[3][4] Prototype versions of this heat sink functioned as normal, except designers hadn't figured out how to place the double heat sink inside the engine the same as standard heat sinks could be placed. This resulted in some "hybrid sinks" (single sinks in the fusion engine, double sinks used on the hull) being used on some 'Mechs until the production variant was released, with double sinks being included with applicable fusion engines.[4] Double heat sinks were commonly available during the Star League era but became Lostech over the course of the Succession Wars. Although the technology was essentially extinct after 2865[3] and standard (single) heat sinks became the norm as they were the only ones still available, double heat sinks remained in use in some individual cases.

By the early thirty-first 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 with individual samples built into operative BattleMechs, and in 3030, towards the end of the Fourth Succession War, the Capellan Confederation already fielded their BJ-3 Blackjack variant,[5] the first regular 'Mech design sporting double heat sinks in decades if not centuries. (Although it is not generally known, the Confederation did not develop double heat sinks themselves; the Federated Suns had prototypes manufactured in the Lyran Commonwealth and a Capellan agent was able to siphon a share of the production off to the Confederation.[6])

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]

Models[edit]

The Double Heat Sink is manufactured on the following planets:

Brand Planet Company Used by References
Adams OA-34 [7]
Kong Advanced Coolant TR-12 Connaught Kong Interstellar Corporation Ostsol [8]

Nonstandard subtypes[edit]

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.

Prototype Double Heat Sinks[edit]

The prototype double heat sinks developed in the closing years of the Age of War and in the period between the discovery of the Helm Memory Core and the reintroduction of the standard double heat sink shared almost identical characteristics with each other. Functionally, these prototypes were identical to standard double heat sink, with the following exceptions: firstly, prototype double heat sink couldn't be mounted in engines.[9][10] Secondly, the prototype double heat sink in use in the mid-thirty-first century could be combined with single heat sinks when used in BattleMechs,[10] while the prototype double heat sink in use during the Reunification War could be combined with single heat sinks in any combat unit that could mount double heat sinks.[9]

Double-Strength Heat Sinks[edit]

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 as part of Project Phoenix. 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.[11] (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. As far as can be determined, neither the Federated Suns nor the Draconis Combine ever used these exact same Double-Strength Heat Sinks again after the battles on Hoff.

Following the sacking of their facility at Hoff, the Federated Suns found they lacked the industrial capacity to resume production of the prototypes. They approached various Lyran Commonwealth firms to build components which were brought together at Hesperus II where Kincaid Defiance Industries assembled them and secretly shipped them to New Avalon from ca. 3026 onwards.[6] The Capellan Confederation obtained a share of these prototypes through an agent.[6]

Corrosive Coolant Experimental Double Heat Sinks[edit]

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][12] 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[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 20 Year Update, p. 72: "Military Technology Review"
  2. ↑ The Super Griffin and field refits using suitable prototype double heat sinks have been known to combine regular and double heat sinks
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Starterbook: Sword and Dragon, p. 57: "Double Heat Sinks"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Interstellar Operations, p. 71: "Double Heat Sinks"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Historical: War of 3039, pp. 144–145: "Rules Annex - Double Heat Sinks (Freezers)"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Proprietary
  7. ↑ MechCommander 2, Encyclopedia
  8. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 123: "Produced Kong Interstellar Corporation Components"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 179: "Double Heat Sinks (DHS-P)"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 144: "Double Heat Sinks (Freezers)"
  11. ↑ Tales of the Black Widow Company, pp. 40–42, 47: "Battle for Hoff Scenario II-III/Battle for Hoff Scenario IV"
  12. ↑ Starterbook: Sword and Dragon, p. 58: "Prototype Weapons and Equipment Table"

Bibliography[edit]

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