Browsing by Author "Massina, Christopher"
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Item Performance Testing and Modeling of a Scaled Fusible Heat Sink Test Article for Exploration Vehicles(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Hillstrom, Alexander; Massina, Christopher; Foley, Lauren; Abraham, Brittany; Andish, KambizA water based fusible heat sink is envisioned for use in several future human space vehicles ranging from a deep space habitable airlock to lunar rovers. This radiator concept has the potential to enable active thermal control systems with a single benign working fluid (such as propylene glycol water) as dynamic loading is buffered by the heat capacity of the integrated water layer. This paper presents the results of evaluations of a scaled test article which includes integrated coolant tubes through the radiator’s water reservoir. This testing was completed to validate analysis results and provide insight into freeze direction and control given the enclosure volume’s unique geometry and internal features. The coolant flows through the radiator in two tube bank layers. The first layer is contained within the water volume near the heat rejection interface, i.e. the radiating surface, and the second layer is submerged within the entrained water volume. The inlet temperature and flow rates of each layer can be controlled independently to better match the thermal performance expected in the full scale radiator. Results indicate that a predictable freeze direction can be obtained repeatedly and the associated water ice spike formation can be tolerated by a flexible enclosure. Implications for the next iteration of full scale hardware design are also discussed.Item Thermal Design Assessment of a Water Based Fusible Heat Sink Radiator for Space Exploration Missions(48th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2018-07-08) Abraham, Brittany; Pantermuehl, Jerry; Conger, Bruce; Massina, Christopher; Gernhardt, MichaelThe use of a heat rejection apparatus that can act as both an energy capacitor and a radiator has the potential to provide many functions in an exploration-class space vehicle. In this concept, water is used as a thermal capacitor or buffer material within the structure of the radiator panel. The radiator provides heat rejection to the local environment while the water stores or releases excess thermal energy passively. While the water’s use in this case is primarily for thermal control, the reservoir also acts as a radiation barrier for crew protection through those surfaces, and is inherently a contingency water reservoir. This paper provides an overview of recent thermal analysis work and the associated functional capability with the current design. The current design was developed such that the water would function predominantly as a sensible thermal capacitor versus a latent thermal capacitor during crewed operations in a deep space environment. This allows the radiator to operate at higher temperatures and reduces the likelihood of freezing the entire water volume during nominal operations. The desire is for the mechanical design to be freeze-tolerant, versus being required to operate with daily complete freeze and thaw cycles of the water volume where increased mechanical fatigue may be expected. The evaluated architecture and radiator design allows for single loop operations and is a viable technology candidate for relatively low power vehicles. Future work to refine the mechanical design through analysis and testing is outlined.