Prospecting for Space Futures through Exploratory Foresight
- Paper number
IAC-04-IAA.3.8.1.01
- Author
Mr. David Crabtree, Canadian Space Agency, Canada
- Year
2004
- Abstract
Porous capillary structures are used inside heat pipes to transfer liquid from the condenser zone toward the evaporator. This transport capacity is one of the main parameter governing the performance of this kind of device with the heat of vaporization of the working fluid. Capillary structures provide in general a higher capillary pressure than grooves which are currently used. The present report is related to porous materials produced by sintering metal fibers with length much larger than their diameters (e.g. diameter = 70 µm and length 4 mm). The permeability of such a structure is rather large as all pores are communicating and the porosity can be as large as 89The prepared layer is sintered under vacuum at temperatures depending on the used materials (Copper, Stainless Steel, Titanium,…). After the sintering step, the final permeability is adjusted to the need by rolling the system over the plasticity limit. Sheets have been used to prepare 10 Copper heat pipes, 10 mm diameter and 300 mm length. The performances have been characterized for 5 different porous structures, in configuration up to the vertical orientation with the evaporator on the top. The obtained performances of these 10 sample heat pipes will be detailed at the presentation.
This research was supported by a joint INTAS – CNES – NSAU programme.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-04-IAA.3.8.1.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.