An analysis was performed to determine the reliability and optimum configuration of large heat pipe radiators against micrometeoroid damage in an earth orbit environment. A standard NASA meteoroid flux model was used. The weight of the radiator was optimized as a function of mission life and net system reliability. Lifetimes of up to 30 years, with system reliability values up to 0.9999 were analyzed. The weight optimization included consideration of fin efficiency as well as micrometeoroid puncture probability as a function of heat pipe spacing, fin thickness, and tube wall thickness. Results show the required number of heat pipes at beginning of life compared to end of life, and the required tube wall thickness as a function of heat pipe spacing and radiator size. The results indicate that high reliability and long life can be achieved with redundancy levels considerably below 100 percent, and that the required redundancy level decreases significantly as the radiator size and number of heat pipes is increased. Finally, a weight comparison between a heat pipe and a fluid loop radiator system is presented for a 35-kW Orbital Service Module system as a function of reliability and operational life. (Peters)
Optimization of large heat pipe radiators for long life space heat rejection systems
Optimierung grosser Heatpipe-Kuehler fuer langlebige Waermeabfuhrsysteme in der Raumfahrt
ASME-Papers ; 1-9
1979
9 Seiten, 17 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 10 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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