Application of a Heat Pump-Refrigerator to ICF Space Propulsion

摘要

Lasers proposed for use with ICF space propulsion have high efficiency only at low temperature. Yet waste heat energy can only be radiated effectively at high temperature because radiator area is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the absolute temperature. Darling suggested that a heat pump-refrigerator be used to transfer waste heat from a laser, operating at a low temperature, to a high temperature radiator. If heat could be transferred efficiently with a heat pump-refrigerator, savings in weight and cost could be gained when compared to directly radiating waste heat at the laser temperature. (ERA citation 12:003017)