THIS PROJECT CONCERNS A NOVEL DEVICE THAT CAN ATTAIN HIGH HEAT TRANSFER RATES WHILE OPERATING AS A COLD PLATE OR AS A HOT PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER IN A TWO PHASE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SPACE STATION OR SPACE PLATFORM.

THIS PROJECT CONCERNS A NOVEL DEVICE THAT CAN ATTAIN HIGH HEAT TRANSFER RATES WHILE OPERATING AS A COLD PLATE OR AS A HOT PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER IN A TWO PHASE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A SPACE STATION OR SPACE PLATFORM. THE DEVICE UTILIZES CAPILLARY FORCES TO CONTROL THE POSITION AND FLOW OF THE LIQUID PHASE OF THE WORKING FLUID. THIS ALLOWS A HIGH EXIT QUALITY (APPROXIMATELY 100% VAPOR FLOW) TO BE MAINTAINED WHICH RESULTS IN REPRODUCIBLE AND STABLE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS IN THE TRANSPORT SECTIONS OF THE THERMAL BUS. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PHASE I RESEARCH PROGRAM ARE TO DEVELOP AN ANALYTICAL MODEL OF THE COLD PLATE/HOT PLATE; TO SPECIFY SOME OF THE KEY DESIGN PARAMETERS OF THE DEVICE; AND TO STUDY CONTROL TECHNIQUES WHEN THE DEVICE IS INCORPORATED INTO A PUMPED TWO PHASE THERMAL BUS. ALSO THE STUDY ANALYZES THE PERFORMANCE OF A CAPILLARY DRAINED CONDENSER WHEN USED AS THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE TWO PHASE LOOP AND A SPACE RADIATOR.