Orbital Replaceable Unit (ORU)/Cold Plate Thermal Interface Study. Volume 1. Executive Summary

摘要

A pressurized dry heat pipe connector concept and low melting point alloy interface material were compared for thermal control of high power orbit replaceable payloads. The use of the pressurized contact concept for improving the efficiency of a dry thermal interface has considerable advantages over other methods of mechanical clamping, particularly where large contact areas are required for the transfer of high heat fluxes. Moderate values for the joint conductance, up to 1000 W/sq m K are attainable. A cylindrical or conically shaped contact surface where connector heat pipes are pressed together in a radial direction can transfer high heat fluxes in relatively small sized thermal connectors. It also enables passive back-up concepts such as the low melting point alloy interface material to be integrated in the connector design. Tests show it is possible to achieve values of 7000 W/sq m K with the proposed thermal interface concept.