Design considerations for capillary heat pipes at cryogenic temperatures
Abstract
A cryogenic heat pipe was suggested as an efficient means of transferring heat from a cooled component on a spacecraft. A thermodynamic analysis of the heat pipe operation, at cryogenic temperatures, leads to the conclusion that the radiant heat leak into the system establishes a minimum temperature difference for efficient operation-the criterion being the absence of fluid boiling in the wick. A design equation for the maximum heat transport in the wick is presented, and correlations for wicking characteristics and wick dimensions are established. A preliminary design for the spacecraft heat pipe is presented. Operating conditions and physical dimensions of the heat pipe and wick are specified. Possible wick materials and configurations are discussed, and a specific approach for experimentation is recommended.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- October 1967
- Bibcode:
- 1967STIN...7724430S
- Keywords:
-
- Design Analysis;
- Heat Pipes;
- Heat Transfer;
- Low Temperature Physics;
- Cryogenics;
- Low Temperature;
- Radiant Heating;
- Spacecraft Cabins;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer