Heat Pipe Performance In Space Technology Experiment
(Room California)
30 Jun 16
12:00 PM
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1:15 PM
Heat pipes use the latent heat of vaporization of a working fluid for highly efficient transport of heat from various devices ranging from laptop computers to space satellites. They can transport heat on the order of 1,000 times more effectively than a metal conductor such as copper. A micro-gravity heat pipe experiment that was conducted in the mid-deck area of the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-52) will be discussed. The objectives of this experiment were to compare ground test data with actual flight results and analytical predictions. An equation was derived for spinning heat pipes that’s still in use today. Although the speaker did not fly on the Space Shuttle, some of the adventures associated with training and working with astronauts will be discussed.