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Advanced Active Thermal Control Systems Architecture StudyThe Johnson Space Center (JSC) initiated a dynamic study to determine possible improvements available through advanced technologies (not used on previous or current human vehicles), identify promising development initiatives for advanced active thermal control systems (ATCS's), and help prioritize funding and personnel distribution among many research projects by providing a common basis to compare several diverse technologies. Some technologies included were two-phase thermal control systems, light-weight radiators, phase-change thermal storage, rotary fluid coupler, and heat pumps. JSC designed the study to estimate potential benefits from these various proposed and under-development thermal control technologies for five possible human missions early in the next century. The study compared all the technologies to a baseline mission using mass as a basis. Each baseline mission assumed an internal thermal control system; an external thermal control system; and aluminum, flow-through radiators. Solar vapor compression heat pumps and light-weight radiators showed the greatest promise as general advanced thermal technologies which can be applied across a range of missions. This initial study identified several other promising ATCS technologies which offer mass savings and other savings compared to traditional thermal control systems. Because the study format compares various architectures with a commonly defined baseline, it is versatile and expandable, and is expected to be updated as needed.
Document ID
19970001606
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Hanford, Anthony J.
(Lockheed Martin Engineering and Sciences Co. Houston, TX United States)
Ewert, Michael K.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1996
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.15:104822
S-817
NASA-TM-104822
Accession Number
97N11400
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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