Experimental Investigation of a Deployable Radiator Prototype with Loop Heat Pipes

摘要

A deployable radiator prototype which uses two parallel loop heat pipes to transmit heat is developed by CAST. Experiments in both ambient and vacuum conditions are carried out to test the characteristics such as start-up of deployable radiator, the maximum heat transport capability, the ability of anti freezing of fluid and recovery from frozen, the effect of compensation chamber temperature-control system and the deployable mechanism. Through these experiments, some basic thermal and mechanical characteristics are verified. Furthermore, some "special" characteristics are investigated and discussed in detail, which will bring great help to the actual space application of deployable radiator.