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On-orbit Test and Analyses of Operating Performances for Mechanically Pumped Two-phase Loop in Microgravity Environment

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Abstract

As a typically advanced two-phase heat transfer device, the operating performances of mechanically pumped two-phase loop (MPTL) might be affected by microgravity condition. One MPTL setup integrating with a two-phase thermally-controlled accumulator is designed and constructed in present study. Particularly, three capillary structures and self-cooling measure are employed to perform the functions of two-phase fluid management and cooling of accumulator in microgravity environment. The obtained on-orbit test data of MPTL setup aboard the China’s test satellite SY-9 launched in 2021, including the temperatures and pressures, are employed to analyze the operating characteristics during the whole process, thermodynamic behavior of accumulator, and coupling process of heat and mass transfer between accumulator and main loop in μg. Superheat phenomenon takes place during phase changing process and it leads to a higher temperature. During generation and disappearance processes of two-phase fluid in the main loop, phenomenon of fluid exchange between the accumulator and the main loop occurs. The fluid management function and self-cooling ability of accumulator are validated under microgravity condition. The operating characteristics of MPTL system at a high rotation speed are compared with the results at a low speed. The gravity-independence of cross-sectional two-phase distribution in the transport tube of the main loop is discussed in the frame of dominant force analysis. The research would contribute to the theoretical basis of two-phase flow and heat transfer and would promote the development of active two-phase thermal control technology for space.

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Abbreviations

A c2 :

Cross-section area, m2

A w :

Cross sectional area of porous medium perpendicular to the flow direction, m2

Bo :

Bond number

d c2 :

Inner diameter of the porous-wall tube, m

Fr :

Froude number

h lv :

Latent heat of vaporization, kJ/kg

K :

Wick permeability, m2

la axial length:

M

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flowrate, kg/s

\(\dot{m}_{L}\) :

Inner largest mass flowrate between the main loop and the accumulator, kg/s

P :

Pressure, MPa

P Accu :

Pressure in the evaporator, MPa

P Eva :

Pressure in the evaporator, MPa

r :

c1Effective pore diameter of capillary mesh, m

r :

c2Effective pore diameter of porous-wall tube, m

T :

Temperature, K

T Accu :

Temperature of fluid in the accumulator, K

T Eva :

Temperature of fluid in the evaporator, K

T Eva_in :

Temperature at the inlet of evaporator, K

T sat :

Saturated temperature, K

U :

Velocity, m/s

We:

Webber number

∆L :

Maximum transport length through the wick, m

∆P c_max1 :

Maximum capillary pressure head of capillary mesh, MPa

∆P c_max2 :

Maximum capillary pressure head of porous-wall tube, MPa

∆P f 1 :

Pressure drop through the capillary mesh, MPa

∆P f 2 :

Pressure drop along the tube, MPa

∆P f 3 :

Radial flow resistance, MPa

ε :

Porosity, -

μ :

Dynamic viscosity, Pa·s

ρ :

Density, kg/m3

σ :

Surface tension coefficient, N/m

Accu :

Accumulator

Eva :

Evaporator

l :

Liquid

lv :

Liquid and vapor

v :

Vapor

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.51806010).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Space Mechanics and Electricity, Beijing, 100094, China

    Qingliang Meng, Feng Yu, Yu Zhao & Zhenming Zhao

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Remote Sensing Technology, Beijing, 100094, China

    Qingliang Meng, Feng Yu, Yu Zhao & Zhenming Zhao

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  1. Qingliang Meng
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Correspondence to Qingliang Meng.

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This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Research Pioneer and Leader of Microgravity Science in China: Dedicated to the 85th Birthday of Academician Wen-Rui Hu

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Meng, Q., Yu, F., Zhao, Y. et al. On-orbit Test and Analyses of Operating Performances for Mechanically Pumped Two-phase Loop in Microgravity Environment. Microgravity Sci. Technol. 34, 45 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12217-022-09966-z

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