Structural and preliminary thermal performance testing of a pressure activated contact heat exchangerA contact heat exchanger concept is being developed for use onboard Space Station as an interface device between external thermal bus and pressurized modules. The concept relies on mechanical contact activated by the fluid pressure inside thin-walled tubes. Structural testings were carried out to confirm the technology feasibility of using such thin-walled tubes. The test results also verified the linear elastic stress analysis which was used to predict the tube mechanical behaviors. A preliminary thermal testing was also performed with liquid Freon-11 flowing inside tubes and heat being supplied by electrical heating from the bottom of the contact heat exchanger baseplate. The test results showed excellent agreement of test data with analytical prediction for all thermal resistances except for the two-phase flow characteristics. Testing with two-phase flow inside tubes will, however, be performed on the NASA-JSC test bed.
Document ID
19870057569
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lee, C. Y. (General Dynamics Corp. San Diego, CA, United States)
Christian, E. L. (General Dynamics Corp. San Diego, CA, United States)
Wohlwend, J. W. (General Dynamics Corp. Space Systems Div., San Diego, CA, United States)
Parish, R. C. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)