Optimization of Nitrogen Cooling for Phased Array Receiver Systems in Radio Astronomy

This study aims to enhance the thermal management of phased array receiver systems used in radio astronomy by optimizing a nitrogen-based cooling mechanism. A numerical simulation approach was used to evaluate the influence of various structural and flow parameters, including dimensions, quantity, configuration, shape of the inlets and outlets, and nitrogen flow rate, on the cooling performance. A computational model was developed for a phased array receiver system comprising 64 groups of lownoise amplifiers, totaling 128 units. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was utilized to analyze the thermal behavior across the system. The results indicated that moderate nitrogen flow velocities (ranging from 2.5 to 3.0 m/s) and intermediate inlet radius (50 -70 mm) offered the most efficient and uniform cooling. Additionally, a dual-inlet, dual-outlet configuration enhanced overall temperature distribution, while square inlets, which provided the same area as circular ones, improved localized cooling performance. The optimized configuration substantially reduced thermal non-uniformity and supported stable operation under low-temperature conditions. The proposed nitrogen cooling design and configuration strategies present a practical and energy-efficient alternative to traditional cryogenic systems for phased array receiver systems. These findings provide valuable insights for future large-scale implementations in radio astronomy applications.