SPACE-BASED SOLAR WATER HEATER

MANNED SPACECRAFT ON LONG MISSIONS OR PERMANENTLY IN ORBIT (E.G. SPACE STATION) WILL REQUIRE HOT WATER FOR HOUSEKEEPINGCHORES SUCH AS CLOTHES AND DISH WASHING AND BATHING. THE ECLS SYSTEM WILL ALSO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF HOT WATER. IF THIS WATER IS ELECTRICALLY HEATED, MANY ADDITIONAL SQUARE FEET OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) ARRAY WILL BE NEEDED. AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE IS TO MOUNT A SOLAR COLLECTOR ON THE VEHICLE (E.G. SPACE STATION HABITAT MODULE). SOLAR COLLECTORS ARE FROM 40% TO 80% EFFICIENT WHILE PV ARRAYS ARE ABOUT 8% TO 15% EFFICIENT AND ARE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. EARTH-BASED SOLAR WATER HEATER DESIGNS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND MAY BE APPLIED TO SPACE-BASED SYSTEMS. REMTECH WILL INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF SEVERAL POTENTIAL SOLAR COLLECTOR SYSTEMS FOR USE AS A SOLAR WATER HEATER USING THE SPACE STATION AS A GUIDE. THE PERFORMANCE OF EACH SYSTEM WILL BE COMPUTED AND ONE PRELIMINARY DESIGN WILL BE CHOSEN. THIS STUDY WILL INCLUDE FLAT-PLATE COLLECTORS, CONCENTRATORS, PUMPED HEAT TRANSFER LIQUIDS AND HEAT PIPES.