Share

TPX for in-orbit demonstration of two-phase heat transport technology-evaluation of flight & post-flight experiment results.

Author(s) : DELIL A. A. M., HEEMSKERK J. F., MASTENBROEK O., DUBOIS M., OOST S. van, COESEL M. J. N., SUPPER W., ACETI R.

Summary

As two-phase flow and heat transfer is expected to strongly depend on the gravity level, a two-phase experiment (TPX) has been developed for ESA to demonstrate two-phase heat transport system technology in orbit. TPX, a reduced-scale capillary pumped two-phase ammonia loop with a flat and a cylindrical capillary evaporator and an actively controlled reservoir for loop temperature setpoint control, included downscaled components of mechanically pumped loops: multichannel condenser, vapour quality sensors, and a controllable 3-way valve for vapour quality control exercises. The presented detailed evaluation of the experiment results obtained during the TPX flight on STS60, clearly proves the viability of two-phase technology for space.

Details

  • Original title: TPX for in-orbit demonstration of two-phase heat transport technology-evaluation of flight & post-flight experiment results.
  • Record ID : 1996-3333
  • Languages: English
  • Publication date: 1995/07/10
  • Source: Source: SAE tech. Pap. Ser./Pap. int. Conf. environ. Syst., San Diego
    n. 951510; 20 p.; 38 fig.; 15 ref.
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

Indexing