Experiments with phase-change thermal-energy-storage canisters for Space Station Freedom

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5068271

Kerslake, T W

The solar dynamic power module proposed for the Space Station Freedom (SSF) uses the heat of fusion of a phase change material (PCM) to efficiently store thermal energy for use during eclipse periods. The PCM, a LiF-20CaF2 salt, is contained in annular, metal canisters located in a heat receiver at the focus of a solar concentrator. PCM canister ground-based experiments and analytical heat transfer studies are discussed. The hardware, test procedures, and test results from these experiments are discussed. After more than 900 simulated SSF orbital cycles, no canister cracks or leaks were observed and all data were successfully collected. The effect of 1-g test orientation on canister wall temperatures was generally small while void position was strongly dependent on test orientation and canister cooling. In one test orientation, alternating wall temperature data were measured that supports an earlier theory of oscillating vortex flow in the PCM melt. Analytical canister wall temperatures compared very favorably with experimental temperature data. This illustrates that ground-based canister thermal performance can be predicted well by analyses that employ straight-forward, engineering models of void behavior and liquid PCM free convection. Because of the accuracy of analytical models and the relative insensitivity of 1-g performance to test orientation, canister performance in micro-g should be predictable with a high degree of confidence by removing gravity effects from the analytical modeling.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 5068271
• Report Number(s): N-92-21216; NASA-TM--104427; E--6102; NAS--1.15:104427; CONF-910801--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
142000* -- Solar Energy-- Heat Storage-- (1980-)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM HALIDES
CONTAINERS
CONVECTION
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENTHALPY
EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FUSION HEAT
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAT STORAGE
HEAT TRANSFER
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
LITHIUM HALIDES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING METHODS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPACE VEHICLES
STORAGE
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
TESTING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION HEAT
VEHICLES
VOIDS
VORTEX FLOW