Design of a modular test loop for study of two-phase flow and heat transfer in low and high accelerations
Abstract
Thermal management systems using two-phase heat transfer loops are being developed for application on future spacecraft operating at high power levels. Design of these systems requires a knowledge of two-phase flow and heat transfer in microgravity and high acceleration environments. In addition to the two-phase flow parameters, several criteria including heat transfer boundaries and instability mechanisms are expected to be strongly dependent on the acceleration levels. These should be analyzed in detail and experimentally verified. The overall objective of this program was to identify the parameters and criteria of immediate importance of design of two-phase systems and to develop the conceptual design for a modular two-phase loop which can be used to generate the necessary data. A survey of existing and ongoing efforts was performed to identify the areas that need more testing, and to select the two-phase flow models which could be used in the design analysis. A preliminary design for a baseline configuration was completed which is intended to perform the defined experiments at earth gravity and aboard an airplane in Keplerian trajectory. This effort consisted of fluid selection, design analysis, and specification of the test matrix.
- Publication:
-
Final Report
- Pub Date:
- July 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990lsi..rept.....A
- Keywords:
-
- Flow Stability;
- Heat Transfer;
- Reduced Gravity;
- Spacecraft Equipment;
- Stability Tests;
- Temperature Control;
- Two Phase Flow;
- Fluid Boundaries;
- Heat Flux;
- High Acceleration;
- Weightless Fluids;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer