Two-dimensional model of a Space Station Freedom thermal energy storage canister

Conference · Wed Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6532679

Kerslake, T W; Ibrahim, M B

The Solar Dynamic Power Module being developed for Space Station Freedom uses a eutectic mixture of LiF-CaF2 phase change salt contained in toroidal canisters for thermal energy storage. Results are presented from heat transfer analyses of the phase change salt containment canister. A 2-D, axisymmetric finite difference computer program which models the canister walls, salt, void, and heat engine working fluid coolant was developed. Analyses included effects of conduction in canister walls and solid salt, conduction and free convection in liquid salt, conduction and radiation across salt vapor filled void regions and forced convection in the heat engine working fluid. Void shape, location, growth or shrinkage (due to density difference between the solid and liquid salt phases) were prescribed based on engineering judgement. The salt phase change process was modeled using the enthalpy method. Discussion of results focuses on the role of free-convection in the liquid salt on canister heat transfer performance. This role is shown to be important for interpreting the relationship between ground based canister performance (in l-g) and expected on-orbit performance (in micro-g). Attention is also focused on the influence of void heat transfer on canister wall temperature distributions. The large thermal resistance of void regions is shown to accentuate canister hot spots and temperature gradients.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6532679
• Report Number(s): N-90-26279; NASA-TM--103124; E--5474; NAS--1.15:103124; CONF-900801--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140700* -- Solar Thermal Power Systems
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600 -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM FLUORIDES
CALCIUM HALIDES
COMPUTER CODES
CONVECTION
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENTHALPY
EUTECTICS
FINITE DIFFERENCE METHOD
FLUIDS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
GASES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAT STORAGE
HEAT TRANSFER
ITERATIVE METHODS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
LITHIUM HALIDES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PHASE CHANGE MATERIALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SOLAR THERMAL POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VAPORS
VOIDS
WORKING FLUIDS