PLASTIC CRYSTAL SLURRIES OFFER UNIQUE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS FOR THERMAL STORAGE IN SPACE.

PLASTIC CRYSTAL SLURRIES OFFER UNIQUE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS FOR THERMAL STORAGE IN SPACE. PLASTIC PARTICLES, SUSPENDED IN A LIQUID CARRIER, TRANSFORM BETWEEN TWO SOLID PHASES, THEREBY SIMULATING A LIQUID-LIQUID PHASE CHANGE. UNLIKE LIQUID-VAPOR OR SOLID -LIQUID PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS, THE SLURRIES REMAIN IN ONE PHYSICAL STATE. THE WEIGHT AND TS, INHERENT IN HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR OTHER FORMS OF THERMAL STORAGE ASSET, RATHER THAN A WEIGHT LIABILITY. ADDITIONAL SLURRY STORAGE CAN BE PROVIDED BY TANKS. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL INVESTIGATE THE THERMAL AND FLUIDIC PROPERTIES OF PLASTIC CRYSTAL SLURRIES. PLASTIC CRYSTALS WILL BE TAILORED TO MEET NASA'S TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS BY SOLID SOLUTION AND DOPING METHODS. THE COMPATIBILITY OF PLASTIC CRYSTALS WITH VARIOUS CARRIER FLUIDS WILL BE STUDIED ANDD A SOLID/LIQUID PAIR WILL BE CHOSEN FOR USE IN AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST LOOP. STUDIES OF FRICTION FACTOR VS. SOLID CONCENTRATIONS WILL CLARIFY THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN HIGH THERMAL STORAGE CAPACITY AND LOW PU ING POWER. PERIODIC SLURRY SAMPLING AND FLUID COMPONENT INSPECTION WILL SEEK EVIDENCE OF PARTICLE AGGLOMERATION AND CHANGES IN THERMAL PROPERTIES.