The Liquid Droplet Radiator in Space: A Parametric Approach

Abstract

A successful space mission must have a source of electrical power whether the mission is manned, unmanned, scientific, or nationally strategic. The generation of this electric power will require the rejection of waste heat. For example, the Strategic Defense Initiative will have space based systems generating large amounts of electrical energy with much waste heat energy to be radiated to space. Other space applications requiring from 100 kilowatts to over 100 megawatts include: Space Based Radars, Nuclear/Electric Orbital Transfer Vehicles, Space Based Weapon Systems, and the Space Station. The objective of this study was to investigate the performance and operating characteristics of a cylindrical LDR for use in space by minimizing the mass per heat radiated as a function of the average droplet temperature at the collector using a new pump specific mass term defined as pump mass per liquid mass flow rate.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA182605

Entities

People

  • Gerald L. Buckner

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Electric Power
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Flow Rate
  • Generators
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Loss
  • Mass Flow
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Power
  • Space Based
  • Space Missions
  • Space Systems
  • Specific Heat
  • Vapor Pressure
  • Weapon Systems

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Electrical Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Satellites