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| | | | | | | Two-phase mechanically-pumped fluid loops
The mechanically-driven two-phase fluid loop developments were initiated during the early 1980s in the frame of the Columbus programme. At that time, a two-phase loop driven by an electrically-powered liquid pump and using capillary-assisted evaporators and co-axial heat exchangers was developed and tested successfully.
The application of this device on a very large telecommunication satellite with large deployable radiators has also been reconsidered early 2000s in comparison with the relatively complex three-dimensional heat pipe networks connected to numerous loop-heat-pipe-based deployable radiators. It is expected that this two-phase system provides more interesting thermal control mass budget when compared with the single-phase fluid loop.
ESA currently funds the development of an Engineering Model of the pump package for this type of fluid loop.
In parallel, the development of a miniaturised two-phase mechanically-pumped fluid loop has also been initiated to provide the thermal control of very high heat flux satellite components.
Last update: 24 April 2007 | |
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