Invention of a Constant Temperature Heat Sink/Source based on Thermochemical Principles (SORTECA)

Date

2016-07-10

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

46th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

Heat sinks are used in many systems to keep components within their required temperature ranges. Independent from the heat transfer mechanism (conduction, radiation, convection), a heat sink must always be lower in temperature than the heat source. This can either be accomplished by transporting the heat away via a dedicated heat exchangers or by using the thermal inertia of the heat source which however, leads to a continous temperature increase of the heat sink which means a continous decrease of the heat flow between the source and sink. Heat sinks staying at a constant temperature over a certain time (Constant Temperature Heat Sink = CTHS) even with varying heat input can be realised by using the energy of phase change (from solid to liquid or from liquid to vapour; in case of sublimation from solid to vapour). Another principle which can be used for a CTHS, is the thermochemical heat storage. This paper deals with an invention using the energy of desorption. Although the desorption is in concern for the CTHS, the adsorption is considered as a possibility to turn the heat sink into a heat source, which can be useful under strong variations in the thermal environment of the system. A special CHTS called SORTECA (SORption based TEmperature Conditioning Assembly) has been invented and a prototype has been developed in the frame of the Astrium/DLR PREPARE program. A german and european patent is pending.

Description

Germany
Airbus DS
104
ICES104: Advances in Thermal Control Technology
Vienna, Austria
The 46th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Vienna, Austria, USA on 10 July 2016 through 14 July 2016.
Mathias Gralher, Airbus Defence & Space, Germany
Nicholas O’Leary, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia

Keywords

Thermal Control, Spacecraft, Heat Sink, Heat Source, CHTS, Sorption, Desorption

Citation