Speakers
Description
With the continuous growth in power demands across space applications, the need for efficient thermal management solutions becomes crucial, spanning a wide range of spacecrafts from large GEO to small LEO satellites as well as deep space exploration and lunar missions. In this context, the design of thermal management systems emerges as a challenge to face to ensure the reliability, performance and longevity of space systems. The complexity and diversity of mission profiles require innovative, adaptable and lightweight thermal technologies capable of handling varying thermal loads and stringent environmental conditions. A typical approach to enhancing heat rejection is to increase the radiator surface area using deployable devices. The thermal efficiency and performance of these deployable radiators are critical enablers for system functionality while the deployable thermal link remains the primary challenge to be addressed.
This presentation aims to outline the development process of a flexible link compatible with aluminum axially grooved heat pipe technology.
The flexible heat pipe is composed of a flexible junction connecting straight extruded aluminum grooved profile portions. The flexible link comprises a capillary structure, a flexible housing and welded connectors.
The design and testing of two Engineering Models will be detailed and analysed. Both models have undergone testing using a dedicated rotating bench designed to replicate microgravity fluid distribution conditions. The results including comparison with conventional extruded heat pipes and correlations with qualification data will be presented to demonstrate that the implemented flexible technology has a minimal impact on overall system performance.
