Optimal design of a minimum weight thermal diffuser with constraint on the output thermal power flux

The object of this paper is the development of efficient mathematical and numerical tools to find the optimal shape of a minimum-weight thermal diffuser with a priori specifications on the inward thermal power flux (TPF) and a bound on the outward TPF. The present problem arises in connection with the use of high-power solid state devices in future communications satellites. In a space application the thermal power must ultimately be dissipated to the environment by using heatpipes and correspondingly large radiating areas. However, heatpipes can accept only a limited TPF from a source. Hence we have the requirement of a minimum-weight thermal diffuser with a uniform bound on the outward TPF. Shape optimal design and finite elements methods are used. Complete numerical results are provided.