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Novatherm Mechanical Engineering Lab

Villanova's Thermal Management Laboratory, NovaTherm, addresses issues of research and development in the field of thermal management of electronic devices, components, systems and packaging technologies. The thermal management of electronics is one of the most significant design issues in electronic packaging today as increased device performances create a higher heat loads in smaller device footprints. Insufficient heat removal leads directly to elevated operating temperatures which in turn leads to reliability issues including catastrophic failure of the device.

NovaTherm, formally established in 2004, draws on the expertise of five Villanova Engineering professors who combined have more than 85 years of experience in the thermal management field. Currently, NovaTherm is working on more than a dozen projects with such sponsors as the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research and the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance. NovaTherm projects are affiliated with the Villanova College of Engineering Research Centers. Projects are run through the Center for Advanced Communications and the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Control depending upon research topic. Applications are in the fields of advanced and microelectronics, biomedical, and aerospace fields. Current active research topics include both experimental and numerical studies such as:

  • Thermal Management of Heat Generating Components in Close Proximity in Free, Forced and Mixed Air Convection
  • Evaluation of a Carbon Fiber Brush Heat Sink and High Conductivity, High Density Graphite Foam in Boiling Heat Transfer
  • Transient Thermal Management of High Power Electronics in Pulse Operation Using Phase Change Materials
  • All-Active Microring Resonating Laser: Thermal Characterization and Design for Thermal Abatement
  • Analysis of the Influence of Die Attach Voiding on the Thermal Resistance of Integrated Circuit Packages
  • Thermal Optimization of Composite Heat Spreader
  • Mitigation and Detection of Thermal Signatures of Naval Unmanned Surface Vehicles
  • Thermal Management of SM Actuation for an Unmanned Surface Vehicle.