Heat Pipe Technology: Volume 2. Materials and Applications

ISBN Print: 0-8493-9922-X

TWO-PHASE HEAT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY STATUS

DOI: 10.1615/IHPC1990v2.210
pages 181-195

Abstract

Within two studies funded by ESA/ESTEC the requirements of a mechanically pumped two-phase heat transport system have been examined in the context of the COLUMBUS-programme and a reference configuration has been defined. The critical components of such a system have been analyzed, designed, manufactured and pre-tested by several European companies in charge of Dornier, respectively by Dornier themselves. They have been installed into a two-phase heat transport system test bed at British Aerospace to undergo detailed tests and performance mapping.
Since several years Dornier is engaged in the development of capillary pumped two-phase heat transport systems. Beside a contribution to the development of such kind of thermal loop as a subcontractor of SABCA under ESA/ESTEC-contract, Dornier at present mainly concentrate on the development of a large capillary pumped technology demonstration model loop, built on the basis of national funding. Within this project, among others, miniature test loops have been developed and are used to examine the long-term compatibility of loop materials and the working fluid ammonia.
The first part of this paper informs about the test programme of the European mechanically pumped two-phase heat transport system and some results of the first checkout test phase which has been finished in december 1989.
The second part reports about the current development status of the German national capillary pumped two-phase heat transport system programme including preliminary results of the materials compatibility tests.