The development and manufacture of thermal interface materials including, among other forms, greases, pastes, gels, adhesives, pads, sheets, solders and phase change materials, with good through-plane thermal conductivity for thermal interface applications. The good through-plane thermal conductivity is achieved, through the formation of a conductive network by the use of thermal conductive material-coated fillers, combinations of thermal conductive material-coated fillers and uncoated fillers.

An underwater thermal connector has mating plug and receptacle units configured for releasable mating engagement to form a sealed thermal connection for transferring heat into or out of subsea equipment housing and pipe lines. The receptacle unit has an inner chamber containing thermally conductive media and having a forward end opening which is sealed in the unmated condition, an outer thermally insulating chamber surrounding the inner chamber, a first thermal contact in the inner chamber, and a thermal conductor or heat pipe communicating with the first thermal contact and extending out of an outer end of the unit. The plug unit has at least one thermal conductor or heat pipe having an outer end and extending forward through a rear manifold and terminating in a thermal contact pin which engages the first thermal contact when the units are in mating engagement.

Apparatus for controlling heat transfer between two objects. In one embodiment, The apparatus includes a first and second conductive elements, a container of magnetorheological fluid disposed between the first and second conductive elements, an electromagnet disposed about the container, wherein the electromagnet is configured to produce a magnetic field within the container of magnetorheological fluid and conductively couple the first and second conductive elements, and at least one biasing element wherein the biasing element is coupled to the first conductive element and is configured to move the first conductive element relative to the container to conductively couple and uncouple the first conductive element and the second conductive element.

Method for controlling heat transfer between two objects. In one embodiment, the method includes flowing a current through an electromagnet disposed about a container holding magnetorheological fluid to bias a first conductive element against a first end of the container and a second conductive element against a second end of the container to align particles in the magnetorheological fluid such that first conductive element is conductively coupled to the second conductive element; and reducing the current through an electromagnet such that the first conductive element is biased away from the first end of the container and the second conductive element is biased away from the second end of the container to break the alignment of the particles in the magnetorheological fluid such that the first conductive element is not conductively coupled to the second conductive element.

A heat sink assembly uses a pin and a spring arrangement to bias a heat sink against an underlying support with an electrical component in between. A lock cap, mounted on a head of the pin, selectively engages a retainer formed beneath an upper end of a heat dissipating element or fin of the heat sink to precompress the spring. When the lock cap is engaged and the spring is precompressed, the pin may be attached to the underlying support without opposing the force of the spring. When the attachment is complete and the lock cap is disengaged, the spring is allowed to act against the head of the pin and the base of the heat sink to operatively bias the heat sink against the underlying support.

A heat exchanger for transferring heat between a hot working fluid and a coolant according to the disclosure includes a shell, a core, and an expansion joint. The shell is arranged around an axis and receives a coolant therein. The core is located within the shell and directs a hot working fluid therethrough.