Integrated heat pipe-thermal storage system performance evaluation
Performance verification tests of an integrated heat pipe-thermal energy storage system have been conducted. This system is being developed as a part of an Organic Rankine Cycle-Solar Dynamic Power System (ORC-SDPS) receiver for future space stations. The integrated system consists of potassium heat pipe elements that incorporate thermal energy storage (TES) canisters within the vapor space along with an organic fluid (toluene) heater tube used as the condenser region of the heat pipe. During the insolation period of the earth orbit, solar energy is delivered to the surface of the heat pipe elements of the ORC-SDPS receiver and is internally transferred by the potassium vapor for use and storage. Part of the thermal energy is delivered to the heater tube and the balance is stored in the TES units. During the eclipse period of the orbit, the stored energy in the TES units is transferred by the potassium vapor to the toluene heater tube. A developmental heat pipe element was fabricated that employs axial arteries and a distribution wick connecting the wicked TES units and the heater to the solar insolation surface of the heat pipe. Tests were conducted to verify the heat pipe operation and to evaluate the heat pipe/TES units/heater tube operation by interfacing the heater unit to a heat exchanger.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Sundstrand Corp., Rockford, IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6437255
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-87-1623; CONF-870804-11; ON: DE87010118
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 22. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 10 Aug 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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