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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2019

Development of an evaporator using porous wick structure for a two-phase mechanically pumped fluid loop

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is developing a two-phase mechanically pumped fluid loop (2PMPFL) thermal control system to enable novel mission designs and greater science return for NASA. Pumped two-phase fluid loops have the potential to provide robust and effective thermal control that combine the best aspects of passive two-phase systems (heat pipes) and mechanically pumped single-phase fluid loops. The current requirements include the development of a system with multiple 1 m2 evaporators, each of which is capable of remaining spatially and temporally isothermal while accommodating heat loads of up to 500 W and local fluxes of up to 5 W/cm2. The goal is to attain this using less than 5 W of power. Such a system would be able to accommodate the next generation of payload and bus electronics while using minimal resources.

Birur, Gajanana↗
NASA NTRS2022

Reversible Colorimetric Sensing of Volatile Analytes By Wicking in Close Proximity to A Photonic Film

Isolation of volatile analytes from environmental or biological fluids is a rate-determining step that can delay the response time for continuous sensing. In this paper, we demonstrate a colorimetric sensing system that enables the rapid detection of gas-phase analytes released from a flowing micro-volume fluid sample. The sensor platform is an analyte-responsive metal-insulator-metal (MIM) thin-film structure integrated with a large area quartz micropillar array. This allows precise planar alignment and microscale separation (310 μm) of the optical and fluidic structures. This configuration offers rapid and homogeneous color changes over large areas that permits detection by low-resolution optics or eye, which is well-suited to portable/wearable devices. For our proof-of-principle demonstration, we utilized a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) spacer and evaluated the sensor's response (color change) to ethanol vapor. We show that the RGB color value is quantitatively linked to the spacer swelling, which is reversible and repeatable. The optofluidic platform reduces the sensor response time from minutes to seconds compared with experiments using a conventional chamber. The sensor's concentration-dependent response was examined, confirming the potential of the reported sensing platform for continuous, compact, and quantitative colorimetric analysis of volatile analytes in low-volume samples, such as biofluids.

Timothy J. Palinski↗
NASA NTRS2013

Investigation of VEGGIE Root Mat

VEGGIE is a plant growth facility that utilizes the phenomenon of capillary action as its primary watering system. A cloth made of Meta Aramid fiber, known as Nomex is used to wick water up from a reservoir to the bottom of the plants roots. This root mat system is intended to be low maintenance with no moving parts and requires minimal crew interface time. Unfortunately, the water wicking rates are inconsistent throughout the plant life cycle, thus causing plants to die. Over-wicking of water occurs toward the beginning of the cycle, while under-wicking occurs toward the middle. This inconsistency of wicking has become a major issue, drastically inhibiting plant growth. The primary objective is to determine the root cause of the inconsistent wicking through experimental testing. Suspect causes for the capillary water column to break include: a vacuum effect due to a negative pressure gradient in the water reservoir, contamination of material due to minerals in water and back wash from plant fertilizer, induced air bubbles while using syringe refill method, and material limitations of Nomex's ability to absorb and retain water. Experimental testing will be conducted to systematically determine the cause of under and over-wicking. Pressure gages will be used to determine pressure drop during the course of the plant life cycle and during the water refill process. A debubbler device will be connected to a root mat in order to equalize pressure inside the reservoir. Moisture and evaporation tests will simultaneously be implemented to observe moisture content and wicking rates over the course of a plant cycle. Water retention tests will be performed using strips of Nomex to determine materials wicking rates, porosity, and absorptivity. Through these experimental tests, we will have a better understanding of material properties of Nomex, as well as determine the root cause of water column breakage. With consistent test results, a forward plan can be achieved to resolve the issue and give valuable insight for the next generation of VEGGIE.

Subbiah, Arun M.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Heat pipe design handbook, part 2

The utilization of a digital computer code for heat pipe analysis and design (HPAD) is described which calculates the steady state hydrodynamic heat transport capability of a heat pipe with a particular wick configuration, the working fluid being a function of wick cross-sectional area. Heat load, orientation, operating temperature, and heat pipe geometry are specified. Both one 'g' and zero 'g' environments are considered, and, at the user's option, the code will also perform a weight analysis and will calculate heat pipe temperature drops. The central porous slab, circumferential porous wick, arterial wick, annular wick, and axial rectangular grooves are the wick configurations which HPAD has the capability of analyzing. For Vol. 1, see N74-22569.

Skrabek, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Insoluble Coatings for Stirling Engine Heat Pipe Condenser Surfaces

The principal objective of this Phase 2 SBIR program was to develop and demonstrate a practically insoluble coating for nickel-based superalloys for Stirling engine heat pipe applications. Specific technical objectives of the program were: (1) Determine the solubility corrosion rates for Nickel 200, Inconel 718, and Udimet 72OLI in a simulated Stirling engine heat pipe environment, (2) Develop coating processes and techniques for capillary groove and screen wick structures, (3) Evaluate the durability and solubility corrosion rates for capillary groove and screen wick structures coated with an insoluble coating in cylindrical heat pipes operating under Stirling engine conditions, and (4) Design and fabricate a coated full-scale, partial segment of the current Stirling engine heat pipe for the Stirling Space Power Convertor program. The work effort successfully demonstrated a two-step nickel aluminide coating process for groove wick structures and interior wall surfaces in contact with liquid metals; demonstrated a one-step nickel aluminide coating process for nickel screen wick structures; and developed and demonstrated a two-step aluminum-to-nickel aluminide coating process for nickel screen wick structures. In addition, the full-scale, partial segment was fabricated and the interior surfaces and wick structures were coated. The heat pipe was charged with sodium, processed, and scheduled to be life tested for up to ten years as a Phase 3 effort.

Dussinger, Peter M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Heat transfer device

A heat transfer device is characterized by an hermetically sealed tubular housing including a tubular shell terminating in spaced end plates, and a tubular mesh wick concentrically arranged and operatively supported within said housing. The invention provides an improved wicking restraint formed as an elongated and radially expanded tubular helix concentrically related to the wick and adapted to be axially foreshortened and radially expanded into engagement with the wick in response to an axially applied compressive load. The wick is continuously supported in a contiguous relationship with the internal surfaces of the shell.

Kalkbrenner, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Validation test of 125 Ah advanced design IPV nickel-hydrogen flight cells

An update of validation test results confirming the advanced design nickel-hydrogen cell is presented. An advanced 125 Ah individual pressure vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen cell was designed. The primary function of the advanced cell is to store and deliver energy for long-term, Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) spacecraft missions. The new features of this design, which are not incorporated in state-of-the-art design cells, are: (1) use of 26 percent rather than 31 percent potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte; (2) use of a patented catalyzed wall wick; (3) use of serrated-edge separators to facilitate gaseous oxygen and hydrogen flow within the cell, while still maintaining physical contact with the wall wick for electrolyte management; and (4) use of a floating rather than a fixed stack (state-of-the-art) to accommodate nickel electrode expansion due to charge/discharge cycling. The significant improvements resulting from these innovations are extended cycle life; enhanced thermal, electrolyte, and oxygen management; and accommodation of nickel electrode expansion. Six 125 Ah flight cells based on this design were fabricated by Eagle-Picher. Three of the cells contain all of the advanced features (test cells) and three are the same as the test cells except they do not have catalyst on the wall wick (control cells). All six cells are in the process of being evaluated in a LEO cycle life test at the Naval Weapons Support Center, Crane, IN, under a NASA Lewis Research Center contract. The catalyzed wall wick cells have been cycled for over 19000 cycles with no cell failures in the continuing test. Two of the noncatalyzed wall wick cells failed (cycles 9588 and 13,900).

Smithrick, John J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

HPTAM, a two-dimensional Heat Pipe Transient Analysis Model, including the startup from a frozen state

A two-dimensional Heat Pipe Transient Analysis Model, 'HPTAM,' was developed to simulate the transient operation of fully-thawed heat pipes and the startup of heat pipes from a frozen state. The model incorporates: (a) sublimation and resolidification of working fluid; (b) melting and freezing of the working fluid in the porous wick; (c) evaporation of thawed working fluid and condensation as a thin liquid film on a frozen substrate; (d) free-molecule, transition, and continuum vapor flow regimes, using the Dusty Gas Model; (e) liquid flow and heat transfer in the porous wick; and (f) thermal and hydrodynamic couplings of phases at their respective interfaces. HPTAM predicts the radius of curvature of the liquid meniscus at the liquid-vapor interface and the radial location of the working fluid level (liquid or solid) in the wick. It also includes the transverse momentum jump condition (capillary relationship of Pascal) at the liquid-vapor interface and geometrically relates the radius of curvature of the liquid meniscus to the volume fraction of vapor in the wick. The present model predicts the capillary limit and partial liquid recess (dryout) in the evaporator wick, and incorporates a liquid pooling submodel, which simulates accumulation of the excess liquid in the vapor core at the condenser end.

Tournier, Jean-Michel↗
NASA NTRS2003

Modeling Candle Flame Behavior In Variable Gravity

The burning of a candle, as typical non-propagating diffusion flame, has been used by a number of researchers to study the effects of electric fields on flame, spontaneous flame oscillation and flickering phenomena, and flame extinction. In normal gravity, the heat released from combustion creates buoyant convection that draws oxygen into the flame. The strength of the buoyant flow depends on the gravitational level and it is expected that the flame shape, size and candle burning rate will vary with gravity. Experimentally, there exist studies of candle burning in enhanced gravity (i.e. higher than normal earth gravity, g(sub e)), and in microgravity in drop towers and space-based facilities. There are, however, no reported experimental data on candle burning in partial gravity (g < g(sub e)). In a previous numerical model of the candle flame, buoyant forces were neglected. The treatment of momentum equation was simplified using a potential flow approximation. Although the predicted flame characteristics agreed well with the experimental results, the model cannot be extended to cases with buoyant flows. In addition, because of the use of potential flow, no-slip boundary condition is not satisfied on the wick surface. So there is some uncertainty on the accuracy of the predicted flow field. In the present modeling effort, the full Navier-Stokes momentum equations with body force term is included. This enables us to study the effect of gravity on candle flames (with zero gravity as the limiting case). In addition, we consider radiation effects in more detail by solving the radiation transfer equation. In the previous study, flame radiation is treated as a simple loss term in the energy equation. Emphasis of the present model is on the gas-phase processes. Therefore, the detailed heat and mass transfer phenomena inside the porous wick are not treated. Instead, it is assumed that a thin layer of liquid fuel coated the entire wick surface during the burning process. This is the limiting case that the mass transfer process in the wick is much faster than the evaporation process at the wick surface.

Alsairafi, A.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Early Prototype Development of the Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS)

Long-duration space missions will eventually require a fresh food supply to supplement crew diets, which means growing crops in space. The Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) is a new plant growth approach that contains both an area for a contained substrate and a reservoir for water and/or plant nutrient solutions. Ground studies have shown that the system facilitates both reliable water delivery to seeds for germination (e.g., while avoiding overwatering), and transport of water from the reservoir for improved plant growth while providing nutrients and oxygen to the root zone. In ground prototypes a capillary mat wicking material passively links the water/nutrient solution reservoir to a removable rooting module containing a substrate adapted to support plant growth. Oxygen permeable membranes are incorporated into both the reservoir walls and the rooting modules, bringing in oxygen from outside of the system into the reservoir and then into the rooting modules where the plant roots proliferate. Water is delivered from the reservoir to the substrate contained within the rooting module through the use of wicking material inserted into the plant growth substrate both from the bottom and from the sides of the rooting module. The capillary mat material is intrinsically hydrophilic and continuously wicks water to the substrate throughout the plant growth interval. The system is therefore self-watering in terms of supplying water to the root zone encompassed within the rooting module on demand. At the top, a hydrophilic phenolic foam plug surrounds the wick in the seed insertion zone, and both contains the substrate within the rooting module, and facilitates removal of excess moisture from the capillary mat wick before it can encompass seeds prior to germination. This work is supported by NASA’s Space Life and Physical Sciences and Research Applications Division (SLPSRAD).

Levine, Howard G.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Ceramic Heat Pipe for Thermal Management of a High Frequency Inductor

As the power density of electric machines and power electronics continues to increase to meet the demands of more electric aircraft, the thermal management of these devices becomes increasingly important. Ideally, the thermal management solution of the device should have high thermal conductivity and be electrically insulating so that it can be directly integrated with the device in question. Technical ceramics are a class of materials that meet these two requirements. Direct liquid cooling by submerging electric components in a dielectric fluid is an alternate option, but adds system complexity and may incur pumping loss. In this work, the thermal management solution for a high frequency inductor is presented. A conventional wicked heat pipe is designed that is made from a solid ceramic case with a sintered ceramic wick. This heat pipe can provide structural support for the core and windings and is electrically insulating, so it does not incur any additional eddy current losses from the high frequency magnetic fields. It does not require additional pumping power, because conventional wicked heat pipes are passive devices. In this paper, the manufacturing process of the ceramic heat pipe is also presented. It is shown that the sintering of large diameter spherical ceramic particles is difficult due to their high specific surface area and low surface free energy. To overcome this difficulty, a flux material was used to initiate liquid phase sintering. The results of the sintering trials show that for the 120 μm diameter α-Al2O3 powder selected for the wick, the combination of 1650°C sintering temperature and the addition of 5 wt% talc sintered the porous matrix together sufficiently for use as a heat pipe wick.

High frequency inductor↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Production and Characterization of Additively Manufactured Radiator Panels with Integral Branching Heat Pipes for High-Temperature Heat Rejection

Emerging concepts for fission surface power and nuclear electric propulsion necessitate lightweight, mechanically robust, and thermally efficient heat rejection radiators. State-of-the-art intermediate-temperature (~400 K) composite radiator assemblies have been developed based on titanium-water heat pipes bonded to metal, graphite, and carbon-fiber-based panels. NASA has identified a need for new radiator concepts that can operate at even higher temperatures (500 – 600 K), minimize thermal resistances and thermal stress failures at bond interfaces, and approach areal densities of 2 – 3 kg m -2 . To meet these needs, our team is developing additively manufactured (AM) radiator panels with integral branching wicking heat pipe networks. Water is selected as the working fluid for this temperature range. Based on simulations and thermal vacuum experiments, these branching embedded heat pipe networks can efficiently distribute heat over panels for finned surface efficiencies of η f >70% at T H = 500 K input heat. This paper first presents laser powder-bed fusion AM strategies to produce embedded porous structures for wicking heat pipes in Inconel 718 and titanium alloys (commercially pure and Ti-6Al-4V alloys). Post-build chemical and thermal treatments are described that yield hydrophilic wicking surfaces for operation with water. Transient rate-of-rise experiments with water and acetone are reported that yield estimates for AM wick porosity (ϵ), permeability (K), and effective pore radius (r pore ). Based on the wick characterization results, small prototype radiator panels (75 × 125 mm) with integrated heat pipe networks were manufactured. Heat rejection performance data are presented from cold thermal vacuum testing, with heat input temperatures up to ~510 K. Future efforts will focus on improving heat pipe performance, optimizing radiator mass, and evaluating larger panels to assess scalability.

thermal management↗
NASA NTRS2024

Production and Characterization of Additively Manufactured Radiator Panels With Integral Branching Heat Pipes for High-Temperature Heat Rejection

Emerging concepts for fission surface power and nuclear electric propulsion necessitate lightweight, mechanically robust, and thermally efficient heat rejection radiators. State-of-the-art intermediate-temperature (~400 K) composite radiator assemblies have been developed based on titanium-water heat pipes bonded to metal, graphite, and carbon-fiber-based panels. NASA has identified a need for new radiator concepts that can operate at even higher temperatures (500 – 600 K), minimize thermal resistances and thermal stress failures at bond interfaces, and approach areal densities of 2 – 3 kg m -2 . To meet these needs, our team is developing additively manufactured (AM) radiator panels with integral branching wicking heat pipe networks. Water is selected as the working fluid for this temperature range. Based on simulations and thermal vacuum experiments, these branching embedded heat pipe networks can efficiently distribute heat over panels for finned surface efficiencies of η f >70% at T H = 500 K input heat. This paper first presents laser powder-bed fusion AM strategies to produce embedded porous structures for wicking heat pipes in Inconel 718 and titanium alloys (commercially pure and Ti-6Al-4V alloys). Post-build chemical and thermal treatments are described that yield hydrophilic wicking surfaces for operation with water. Transient rate-of-rise experiments with water and acetone are reported that yield estimates for AM wick porosity (ϵ), permeability (K), and effective pore radius ( r pore ). Based on the wick characterization results, small prototype radiator panels (75 × 125 mm) with integrated heat pipe networks were manufactured. Heat rejection performance data are presented from cold thermal vacuum testing, with heat input temperatures up to ~510 K. Future efforts will focus on improving heat pipe performance, optimizing radiator mass, and evaluating larger panels to assess scalability.

nuclear electric propulsion↗
NASA NTRS1974

Design, development and testing of a cryogenic temperature heat pipe for the icicle system

An analytical model was formulated for a cryogenic heat pipe, and thermal and transport analyses were developed to predict the performance characteristics of various heat pipe designs. These analyses permitted optimization of various design parameters. A series of four breadboard heat pipes were fabricated and tested to provide inputs such as internal film coefficients, minimum capillary radii, and wick permeabilities which are required for the analyses. The results of instrumentation, charging, and testing of cryogenic heat pipes were applied to the prototype heat pipes. After a thorough design analysis of three potential heat pipe wicks (slab, artery, and axial groove), the first two were chosen for application to two prototype heat pipes. Detailed designs were made of the two heat pipes and the units were fabricated. Tests were conducted which verified the integrity and safety margin of the design to withstand the internal pressure at ambient temperature and fatigue of thermal cycling. During the acceptance testing in the vacuum chamber, no difficulty was experienced in priming the slab-wick heat pipe and it met the performance design requirements. The artery-wick heat pipe would not prime with nitrogen working fluid for any test conditions.

Trimmer, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Heat pipe development

The objective of this program was to investigate analytically and experimentally the performance of heat pipes with composite wicks--specifically, those having pedestal arteries and screwthread circumferential grooves. An analytical model was developed to describe the effects of screwthreads and screen secondary wicks on the transport capability of the artery. The model describes the hydrodynamics of the circumferential flow in triangular grooves with azimuthally varying capillary menisci and liquid cross-sections. Normalized results were obtained which give the influence of evaporator heat flux on the axial heat transport capability of the arterial wick. In order to evaluate the priming behavior of composite wicks under actual load conditions, an 'inverted' glass heat pipe was designed and constructed. The results obtained from the analysis and from the tests with the glass heat pipe were applied to the OAO-C Level 5 heat pipe, and an improved correlation between predicted and measured evaporator and transport performance were obtained.

Bienart, W. B.↗