Microgravity experiments with a simple two-phase thermal system

Conference · Thu Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 1991 · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)

OSTI ID:5234567

Crowley, C J; Sam, R G ^[1]

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1. Creare, Inc., P.O. Box 71, Hanover, New Hampshire (USA)

Microgravity experiments with a simple two-phase thermal system are described. Microgravity experiments aboard the NASA KC-135 aircraft provide variable acceleration 0.01g to 2g, with low gravity for 20 to 25 seconds. The two-phase loop allows the vapor and liquid phases to flow together between the evaporator and the condenser. It incorporates and evaporator where heat transfer is controlled by forced convection, an adiabatic transport section where transparent piping provides visualization of the flow regime, and a condenser where heat transfer is controlled by the shear between the gas and liquid phases. Stable operation of the system is observed during the variable accleration.

• OSTI ID: 5234567
• Report Number(s): CONF-910116-; CODEN: APCPC; TRN: 91-027396
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Vol. 217:3; Conference: 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 6-10 Jan 1991; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
AIRCRAFT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
TWO-PHASE FLOW
AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS
FLIGHT TESTING
HEAT TRANSFER
RELIABILITY
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
MOBILE REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
TESTING
420500* - Engineering- Materials Testing
320201 - Energy Conservation
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& Utilization- Transportation- Air & Aerospace
220800 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Propulsion Reactors