Rocketdyne is conducting a series of tests to investigate phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage for space applications. The thermal energy storage subsystem provides energy to a solar dynamic heat engine during the eclipse portion of an earth orbit and absorbs heat during the sunlit portion of each orbit. The experiments are being conducted at the bench-scale level in the laboratory, at a pilot-scale in a liquid-metal thermal test loop, and in a 80-kWt solar test facility. This paper covers the first series of experiments that were conducted with LiOH salt. This salt is compatible with an ORC turbine inlet requirement. Other salts are being investigated for a higher temperature system compatible with CBC turbine inlet requirements. Laboratory tests were conducted to measure radial heating and cooling profiles. These profiles were used to verify a computer model used for the subsequent thermal energy storage vessel design. Laboratory thermal cycling tests of sealed canisters of thermal energy storage salt were conducted to determine canister integrity and corrosion under thermal cycling conditions. Based on the laboratory tests, a thermal energy storage vessel containing 37 canisters was built and tested in a pilot-scale pumped-liquid-sodium thermal test facility. The experiment was successful and formed the basis for the design of a 117-canister thermal energy storage vessel. This subsystem was tested in the 80-kWt parabolic dish solar concentrator. The tests were successful and will form the basis for future thermal storage designs.
Thermal energy storage experiments for space applications
Waermespeicherungsversuche fuer die Raumfahrt
1986
6 Seiten, 14 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 7 Quellen
Conference paper
English
Parametric study of phase change thermal energy storage systems for space applications
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