HIGH PERFORMANCE ALUMINUM HEAT PIPE

THERMACORE HAS DEVELOPED, IN OTHER MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY FOR PRODUCING SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN CAPILLARY PUMPING PRESSURES IN HEAT PIPES. THE IMPROVEMENTS STEM FROM THE USE OF SMALL PORE STRUCTURES FABRICATED FROM SINTERED POWDERS. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSED PHASE I PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP AND DEMONSTRATE THE TECHNIQUES FOR PRODUCING THESE STRUCTURES IN ALUMINUM. SUCCESS IN THIS PROGRAM WILL BRING ABOUT A TWENTY-FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN THE CAPILLARY PUMPING CAPABILITY OF ALUMINUM/AMMONIA HEAT PIPES. THIS IN TURN WILL RESULT IN AN EQUIVALENT INCREASE IN THE HEAT TRANSFER CAPACITY OF HEAT PIPES FOR SPACECRAFT THERMAL CONTROL. THE PROPOSED HEAT PIPES WILL PERFORM WELL WITH DISTRIBUTED EVAPORATORS.