Large and complex heat pipe systems must be installed to thermally control the high dissipating repeater equipment of direct broadcasting TV-satellites, such as the TV-SAT/TDF-1 spacecrafts which are now under development. This paper aims to identify the extent of similarity between ground testing and O-g operation of such systems in terms of transport capability and temperature distribution. The investigation concentrates mainly on the performance limits due to gravitational forces during ground testing and is supported by a number of individual heat pipe tests. The results show that higher temperatures of the heat pipe and/or heat source must be expected during ground testing due to the following mechanism: layer of excess liquid in the condenser zone during adverse tilt operation, partial dry out of grooves in the heating zone (pronounced in cases with one-sided heat input) and pool boiling with a consequent overheating of the evaporator in reflux mode operation of straight heat pipes. The sharp decrease in transport capability in adverse tilt positions may be partially offset by the performance improvement due to excess liquid. (Wassmann)
Problems associated with thermal testing of large heat pipe systems for space application
Probleme bei der thermischen Erprobung grosser Waermeleitrohrsysteme fuer die Raumfahrttechnik
1982
18 Seiten, 14 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 6 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Space shuttle heat pipe thermal control systems design and test
Tema Archiv | 1974
|Optimization of large heat pipe radiators for long life space heat rejection systems
Tema Archiv | 1979
|Thermal behavior of a cryogenic loop heat pipe for space application
Tema Archiv | 2011
|