Operating characteristics of a propylene charged loop heat pipe with potential spacecraft applications
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Authors
Gherlone, Joseph A.
Subjects
Advisors
Kelleher, Matthew
Marto, P.J.
Date of Issue
1995-09
Date
September 1995
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Heat pipes have been in use for spacecraft thermal control since the early 197Os. They offer the advantages of high thermal conductance with relatively low mass, but suffer the liabilities of a rigid configuration and sensitivity to adverse acceleration (exemplified by the evaporator raised over the condenser in earth's gravity field). The Loop Heat Pipe was developed in Russia specifically to address these concerns. Using a metal matrix wick with relatively high capillary pumping capacity and careful fluid inventory management, the Loop Heat Pipe is claimed to be fully self priming and capable of withstanding high adverse acceleration. The above factors also allow the vapor and liquid to travel through very small lines (3 mm OD), providing a highly flexible installation. The Loop Heat Pipe appears to be a valuable technology for future spacecraft development, but little performance data is available. Martin Marietta has purchased two Loop Heat Pipes (one charged with propylene and one with ammonia) from the Lavoclikin Association in Russia. The ammonia pipe was tested by Martin Marietta Astronautics Group in Denver, and the propylene pipe by the author at Philips Laboratory under a Memorandum of Agreement between Martin Marietta and the Air Force Materiel Command. The results presented show that while the propylene charged pipe is not capable of transferring the heat carried by the ammonia pipe, it has otherwise similar characteristics. Failure modes and recovery procedures are documented, and recommendations for further study are included.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Systems Technology (Space Systems Operations)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
NA
Format
137 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.