Shape memory alloy (SMA) passive temperature control systems and methods for aircraft electrical systems

Presented are passive temperature control systems for thermal management of electrical components, methods for making/using such thermal management systems, and aircraft equipped with smart-material activated temperature control systems for passive cooling of battery modules. A thermal management system is presented for passively cooling an electrical component stored inside a module housing. The thermal management system includes a cooling chamber that movably attaches adjacent a module housing that contains an electrical component, such as a rechargeable battery module. The cooling chamber contains a sublimable cooling agent, such as dry ice. A biasing member biases the cooling chamber away from the module housing. A smart material actuator is attached to and interposed between the cooling chamber and module housing. The smart material actuator extracts thermal energy from the module housing and, once heated to a phase transformation temperature, contracts and thereby pulls the cooling chamber into contact with the module housing.