Speaker
Description
The oscillating heat pipe (OHP) is an emerging passive heat transport technology for satellite thermal management. The OHP is similar to other heat pipes in that it uses a saturated fluid to transport heat, however its operational mechanism relies on bubble nucleation in a capillary channel to pump liquid and vapor between the heat sources and heat sinks. This design enables the OHP to be constructed in thin, light weight, structural form factors that can transport high heat loads and fluxes. In the last decade, the OHP has undergone significant testing on ground and in orbit through a number of space agencies and companies. In addition, significant effort has gone into developing accurate models to predict OHP performance and operational limits. Due to these advances, OHPs have begun to be used in commercial satellite applications and have over 300,000 hours on-orbit. These OHPs are used in a variety of form-factors such as heat spreaders, transporters, and radiators. In addition, due to their design, they sometimes also serve as a structural member of the system. This presentation will focus on OHP applications for commercial satellites including operational characteristics, thermal and structural reliability, and space flight heritage.
