Thermal Vaccuum Testing of a Miniature Propylene Loop Heat Pipe

Date

7/10/2022

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

51st International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

This paper presents the design and thermal vacuum testing of a Miniature Loop Heat Pipe (MLHP) with propylene as working fluid. It is for cooling a prototype lunar power device and so needs to work against lunar gravity. The target operating condition was to convey 20W in the +20C to -30C temperature range. All wetted materials were stainless steel, while an aluminum saddle and radiator panel were used to enhance heat spreading. The outer diameter of the LHP primary wick is 5mm and the length is 55mm. The Bubble test showed a pore radius of 1.2 micrometer. The radiator is 265mm x 270mm. The MLHP was tested at different heat loads, different orientations in the gravity field and two sink temperatures of +20C and -30C. The MLHP thermal performance test included startup and steady state operation. Maximum heat transport limit was found to be 25W and peak conductance 6.6 W/C.

Description

John Thayer, AAVID Thermal Division of Boyd Corp., US
Jianbo Jiang, AAVID Thermal Division of Boyd Corp., US
Nelson Gernert, AAVID Thermal Division of Boyd Corp., US
David Bugby, NASA/JPL, US
Jose Rodriguez, NASA/JPL, US
Wes Ousley, Lentech, Inc, US
ICES201: Two-Phase Thermal Control Technology
The 51st International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Saint Paul, Minnesota, US, on 10 July 2022 through 14 July 2022.

Keywords

Loop Heat Pipe, Lunar Power Device, Miniature LHP, Propylene LHP

Citation