Double Heat Sink

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 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).

Double Heat Sinks

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 right up until its re-discovery in the 31st century. Rumors abound that the Bounty Hunter's Marauder and a handful of individual BattleMechs from Wolf's Dragoons, among others, may have been equipped with Double Heat Sinks.

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 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.

Their drawback is that they are three times as bulky as a standard heat sink (unless when 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 incompatible with standard heat sinks. A given unit must therefore be equipped exclusively with either standard or 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.

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, all with slightly different capabilities. However, it should be noted that none of these proved viable for mass production or deployment.

Double-strength heat sinks

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".

Unlike regular Double Heat Sinks, these Double-strength heat sinks could be combined with standard heat sinks, yet dissipated twice as much heat for the same item mass and size. In this, they were plainly superior to regular Double Heat Sinks, sharing none of their drawbacks. 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.

Corrosive coolant experimental Double Heat Sinks

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.

Prototype Double Heat Sinks

Prototype Double Heat Sinks were available as of 3039 that could be installed in addition to the ten regular heat sinks in 'Mech engines. This separates the prototype from regular Double Heat Sinks, which cannot be mixed with regular heat sinks.

References

• Tales of the Black Widow Company, pp. 40-42, 47
• Starterbook: Sword and Dragon, p. 57