MAGNETIC PUMP FOR THERMAL LOOPS

THE CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSED WORK IS THERMAL TRANSPORT IN SPACECRAFT. RELIABLE PUMPS ARE NEEDED FOR LONG TERM MISSIONS. A WIDE RANGE OF ADJUSTMENT AND CONTROL OF THE FLOW RATE IS NEEDED TO RESPOND TO CHANGING HEAT LOADS. IN THE APPROACH TO BE INVESTIGATED, MAGNETIC FIELDS WOULD BE USED TO DRIVE A MAGNETICALLY-SUSCEPTIBLE FLUID IN A PUMP WITH NO MOVING PARTS. WE EXPECT TO SHOW THAT THE BODY FORCE DRIVING THE FLUID CAN BE APPLIED WITH RELATIVELY SMALL MAGNETS--SUITABLE FOR SPACECRAFT--BECAUSE OF HIGH MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE FLUID. SINCE THE ENERGY INPUT TO THE FLUID CAN BE ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE LARGER USING MAGNETIC PRINCIPLES, HEAT TRANSPORT RATES MUCH LARGER THAN THERMOCAPILLARY SYSTEMS SHOULD BE ACHIEVED. THE RELIABILITY OF SUCH A SYSTEM SHOULD BE HIGHER THAN THOSE USING MECHANICAL PUMPS AND THE COST LOWER. THE FEASIBILITY OF A MAGNETIC PUMP FOR THERMAL LOOPS WILL BE DEMONSTRATED ANALYTICALLY.