IGF::OT::IGF ING A NASA PHASE I SBIR PROGRAM, ACT ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR LIGHT-WEIGHT, NON-VENTING PCM HEAT…

Public award description

IGF::OT::IGF ING A NASA PHASE I SBIR PROGRAM, ACT ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR LIGHT-WEIGHT, NON-VENTING PCM HEAT STORAGE DEVICES BY SUCCESSFULLY DEMONSTRATING PROOF-OF-CONCEPT OF A VAPOR CHAMBER WITH A PCM-BASED WICK STRUCTURE. THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF THE PHASE II PROGRAM IS TO DESIGN, FABRICATE, AND TEST A FULL-SCALE PCM VAPOR CHAMBER. GOALS OF THE PHASE II PROGRAM INCLUDE ESTABLISHING THERMAL AND STRUCTURAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS. ACT WILL ALSO DEVELOP A THERMAL STORAGE MODEL FOR INTEGRATION INTO THE HEAT TRANSPORT MODEL DEVELOPED IN PHASE I. A CUSTOM MICROPCM WILL BE DEVELOPED AND SCREENED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SUBCONTRACTOR SWRI TO OBTAIN OPTIMUM PROPERTIES FOR THERMAL PERFORMANCE. ACT WILL ALSO DESIGN, FABRICATE AND TEST A SUB-SCALE PCM VAPOR CHAMBER WITH RELEVANT FORM FACTOR AND A FRACTION OF THE FULL-SCALE HEAT LOAD. UPON SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION OF THE SUB-SCALE UNIT, TWO FULL-SCALE PCM VAPOR CHAMBERS WILL BE FABRICATED AND TESTED. BOTH FULL-SCALE UNITS WILL UNDERGO EXTENSIVE THERMAL PERFORMANCE TESTING. AT THE END OF THE PHASE II PROJECT, ONE OF THE FULL-SCALE PCM VAPOR CHAMBERS WILL BE DELIVERED TO NASA FOR FURTHER TESTING, AND THE OTHER WILL REMAIN AT ACT FOR EXTENDED LIFE TESTING.