Interchangeable Variable Conductance Heat Pipes for Sodium-Sulfur Batteries

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Abstract:

Sodium-sulfur batteries can provide electrical power to satellite instrumentation operating in geosynchronous-earth-orbit GEO and low-earth- orbit LEO conditions. While on orbit, the sodium-sulfur battery requires thermal management as the battery is cycled between discharge in solar eclipse and recharge in sunlight. As the battery discharges in solar eclipse waste heat is generated and the battery requires cooling. During recharge in sunlight the battery temperature needs to be maintained above 320 deg C. In this Phase I program, Thermacore developed and demonstrated a dual titaniumcesium heat pipe to provide passive, lightweight management of the battery during orbital cycling. The dual heat pipe concept uses both constant and variable conductance heat pipes. Constant conductance heat pipes are inserted between sodium-sulfur cells. The cells radiate to the constant conductance heat pipes and this energy is transferred to a variable conductance heat pipe and radiated to deep space.

Author(s):
Hartenstine, John R.
Author Organization(s):
THERMACORE INC LANCASTER PA
Descriptive Note:
Final rept. Aug 1990-Jun 1991
Pagination:
0049

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Report Number(s):
WL-TR-91-2071
Contract/Grant Number(s):
F33615-90-C-2073
Task Number(s):
21
Project Number(s):
3005
Monitor Series:
TR-91-2071, WL
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.5.2_Task; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_1.2.6_Concepts; JCA_6_Net Centric; JCA_6.1.1_Wired Transmission; JCA_1.2.5_Lessons Learned; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange; JCA_1.4.2_Health Service Delivery; JCA_1.4_Force Support; JCA_6.1_Information Transport
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*SPACECRAFT ANTENNAS, *HEAT PIPES, *THERMODYNAMICS, CELLS, PASSIVE SYSTEMS, SODIUM, COOLING, CYCLES, VARIABLES, THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY, ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES, STORAGE BATTERIES, LIGHTWEIGHT, ELECTRIC POWER, TEMPERATURE CONTROL, SULFUR, WASTES, HEAT, CONDUCTION(HEAT TRANSFER), DEEP SPACE, SUNLIGHT, SOLAR ECLIPSES, MANAGEMENT, THERMAL BATTERIES, ORBITS, RADIATION
Field(s)/Group(s):
Energy Storage, Thermodynamics, Unmanned Spacecraft
Keyword(s):
SOLAR BATTERIES, LEO(LOW EARTH ORBIT), GEO(GEOSYNCHRONOUS EARTH ORBIT), PE65502F, WUWL30052183
Report Date:
1991 Aug 01