Vibration-Induced Droplet Atomization, or VIDA, is a thin-film spray cooling technology developed at Georgia Tech with tremendous potential for thermal management applications in future Navy ship power electronic systems. The patented VIDA technique uses a vibrating piezo driver in a self-contained cell to deliver a highly controllable, rapid-response, on-demand aerosol-sized water spray to hot electronic components. Vapor evaporated from the hot surface condenses on a secondary cooling loop, thus enabling efficient heat removal. Results show that a small charge can effectively manage high power densities with an extremely low ratio of power consumed to power removed and with very low flow rates. Through use of a small piezo pump, the system can be made orientation-independent. Cooling rates in excess of 100W/cm2 have been measured while keeping devices below 125C. It is anticipated the technique can be developed to deliver up to 1000 W/cm2 with optimizations described herein. The VIDA technology has the potential for delivering a method of high heat-flux thermal management in a relatively simple, low-cost configuration, in a low-profile form factor. Military applications include solid-state power electronic conversion and distribution systems; as well as cooling of radar, high-power laser, electromagnetic aircraft launch, electromagnetic weapon systems and motor speed controllers. Commercial applications include cooling of lasers for optoelectronic switching and telecommunications systems as well as high-power rack mount and blade servers and high-temperature "under-the-hood electronics."
