High Temperature Oscillating Heat Pipe Transport System

High temperature heat acquisition and transport is a critical technology gap inhibiting full implementation of nuclear energy propulsion (NEP) and power sources for NASA inter-planetary and Lunar Surface missions. Nuclear energy thermal management requires acquisition and transport of 4-10MW of power at 1200-1400K; the target heat flux is 1.0MW/m2. Furthermore, NASA requires candidate technologies to transport heat 3-10 meters with a temperature drop below 150K. ThermAvant Technologies (TAT) proposes to develop an Oscillating Heat Pipe (OHP)-based structurally integrated long distance high-temperature heat acquisition and transport device to meet this crucial need. TAT will conduct an extensive performance and validation test program to quantify OHP manufacturing and operating metrics, and quantify advances over the current state of the art (SOTA).The OHP is an emerging innovative thermal management device which has proven to be size, weight and power consumption and cost (SWaP-C) competitive for a number of heat flux acquisition and transport aerospace applications. In the six-month Phase I program, TAT successfully developed the first ever large format high temperature oscillating heat pipes, which firmly demonstrated the technologys feasibility for the target application. In Phase II, ThermAvant will further advance the state-of-the-art (SOTA) High temperature heat acquisition and transport is a critical technology gap inhibiting full implementation of nuclear energy propulsion (NEP) and power sources for NASA inter-planetary and Lunar Surface missions. Nuclear energy thermal management requires acquisition and transport of 4-10MW of power at 1200-1400K; the target axial heat flux is 1.0MW/m2. Furthermore, NASA requires candidate technologies to transport heat 3-10 meters with a temperature drop below 150K. ThermAvant Technologies (TAT) proposes to continue the development of an Oscillating Heat Pipe (OHP)-based structurally integrated long distance high-temperature heat acquisition and transport device to meet this crucial need. In the proposed Phase II effort herein, TAT will conduct an extensive performance and validation test program to quantify OHP manufacturing and operating metrics, and quantify advances over the current state of the art (SOTA). ThermAvant aims to achieve these technical objectives during the twenty-four-month Phase II period: Improve predictive modeling of high temperature, long distance OHPs by further characterizing breadboard start-up, shut-down and steady-state behaviors Optimize the OHP performance, stability and mechanical features to meet real-world system requirements Demonstrate reliable manufacturing processes for high temperature, long distance OHPs Create clear technology transition paths for high temperature, long distance OHPs post-Phase II Proposed Phase II contractual deliverables include: Quarterly Demonstration Reports Final Report Qty 1 OHP Prototype + accompanying file package TBD (CAD model, test results, SDS/safety info, etc)
Benefits: NASA requires significant improvements over the state-of-the-art high temperature heat acquisition and transport to meet its ambitious Inter-planetary and Lunar Science portfolio. NASA requirements are up to acquire up to 10 MW of heat (heat flux up to 1MW/m2) at 1200K to 1400K and transport the heat over 3 meters with temperature drop no greater than 150K. The most significant near to mid- term mission infusion points are: Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) Lunar Surface Nuclear Power Systems Planetary Exploration Missions Acquisition, spreading, transport and rejection of high flux high temperature heat are significant thermal issues facing government and commercial applications. Nuclear power thermal management to meet high efficiency and clean energy needs High Temperature Electronics and Power Electronics Management of incident high energy at arbitrary locations (high heat flux strikes)