Conformal Leading Edge Heat Pipe

Aerothermal heating of leading edges and nose tips on reentry vehicles creates stagnation-point temperatures that are beyond the limits of most materials. For systems that have reusability requirements, the challenge is even greater. Heat pipes offer a solution to this problem by providing a high-thermal-conductivity path from the hot leading edges to cooler areas of the reentry vehicle where heat can be radiated into space. In this Phase I program Ultramet will design, fabricate, and test a novel heat pipe that is not only high-temperature capable and reusable, but also conformal to the shape of the leading edge or nose tip. Unlike traditional heat pipes, in which the geometry is restricted to either straight or bent tubes, the low-cost fabrication technology to be used in this program, chemical vapor deposition can be used to manufacture heat pipes to virtually any shape, including conical shells and wedge shapes.