Project Title:

High-Capacity Heat Pipe Radiator

09.11-3800A
900814
High-Capacity Heat Pipe Radiator

Abstract:

Heat rejection requirements of future space systems are projected to increase by
an order of magnitude over the coming decades to meet the needs of manned planetary
missions and bases. The Space Station Freedom alone will require 75 kW of heat rejection
at Assembly Complete (AC) and three to four times that capacity in the growth phase.
The Space Constructable Radiators (SCRs) represent the major weight component in
the thermal management system, contributing about 40 kg/kW of heat rejection capacity.
The SCRs also represent the largest components, with a stowed volume of 0.16 m3/kW.
Using present technology, the growth phase of the Space Station Freedom will require
transportation to space of 4 to 9 thousand kilograms of radiator panels at a cost
of about 40 to 90 million dollars. This proposal addresses the development of a novel
high-capacity, heat pipe radiator which has the potential to reduce the radiator
weight by a factor of 6 and the stowed volume by a factor of 10. The proposed radiator
would have a specific mass of about 0.7 kg/m2, which translates to about 6 kg/kW
for heat rejection at room temperature in near earth orbit. The radiator heat pipe
is also inherently resistant to depriming and its evaporator would have a significant
higher heat flux capability than present designs. In Phase I, the feasibility of
the concept will be demonstrated by designing the key elements of the radiator and
performing some proof-of-concept tests.
High-capacity heat pipe technology would have commercial application in the thermal
management of communication satellites and the cooling of high power electronic systems.
heat pipe, radiator, space contructable radiator