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Experiments with phase change thermal energy storage canisters for Space Station FreedomThe 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.
Document ID
19920067940
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kerslake, Thomas W.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Meeting Information
Meeting: IECEC ''91: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Location: Boston, MA
Country: United States
Start Date: August 4, 1991
End Date: August 9, 1991
Accession Number
92A50564
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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