Speaker
Description
Next-generation space missions require efficient, lightweight, and highly reliable passive thermal management systems to support extended operational lifetime. Loop Heat Pipes (LHPs) are a key thermal management technology for satellites, planetary orbiters, and surface exploration missions due to their ability to passively transport heat over long distance with minimum temperature drop. In this work, Advanced Cooling Technologies (ACT) and its collaborators have developed additively manufactured titanium-water loop heat pipes. LHP evaporators have been fabricated using Laser Power Bed Fusion (LPBF) technique. ACT carried out titanium LHP fabrication using additively manufactured titanium evaporator. The titanium evaporator consists of an integrated fine-pore primary wick fabricated directly through additive manufacturing, whereas a secondary wick was fabricated using a coarse-pore screen of titanium. Additionally, ACT conducted theoretical analysis to determine the LHP power carrying capability for a range of operating temperatures from 100 °C to 125 °C. Following the fabrication, ACT will conduct thermal testing to demonstrate the working of a one-of-a-kind additively manufactured titanium-water LHP. Initial testing will focus on transporting nominal heat loads on the order of several hundred watts to demonstrate stable LHP operation. Additional testing will investigate startup behavior at low powers, thermal transport characteristics, and effective thermal conductivity, while experimental results will be compared against analytical predictions. The results will provide insight into the fabrication feasibility and performance of additively manufactured titanium-water LHPs for next-generation space applications.