1500 W Deployable Radiator with Loop Heat Pipe

Abstract

<div class="htmlview paragraph">Two-phase capillary loops are being extensively studied as heat collection and rejection systems for space applications as they appear to satisfy several requirements like low weight, low volume, temperature control under variable heat loads and/or heat sink, operation under on ground and micro gravity conditions, simplicity of mounting and heat transfer through tortuous paths.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">In 1998–2000 Alenia defined and Lavochkin Association developed the Deployable Radiator on the base of honeycomb panels, axial grooved heat pipes and Loop Heat Pipe. It was designed for on-ground testing.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">When developing new Deployable Radiator the designs of the following key components were engineered and tested: <ul class="list nostyle"> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">- High-power Loop Heat Pipe evaporator with low weight and extremely low thermal resistance;</div></li> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">- Pressure regulator for passive thermal stabilization of payload;</div></li> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">- Loop Heat Pipe serial/parallel condenser that allows multiple freezing of the working fluid; de-freezing system;</div></li> <li class="list-item"> <div class="htmlview paragraph">- Thermal key that allows the Radiator multiple opening and closing without application of the explosive means (without shock loads). Panel temperature is used for thermal key actuation.</div></li></ul></div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">Development of new key components made it possible to design Deployable Radiator with specific mass of less than 10 kg/kW.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The characteristics of the Deployable Radiator have been described in last ICES 2000 paper “Development of improved 1500 W Deployable Radiator with Loop Heat Pipe” [<span class="xref">7</span>].</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">For ICES 2001 we updated and expanded the description of different units.</div>