School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics

34th HEXAG meeting – Newcastle University – 20th June 2017

Heat pipes for space & ground applications:

Marco Marengo’s research group

at the University of Brighton

Dr Nicolas Miché

1

Established research in thermal systems for space and ground applications, recently transposed into the UK

• Joined the University of Brighton in 2014, from Bergamo University (Italy)

• 15 Years experience in design, experiments and modelling of thermal systems

• Particular interest and expertise in Pulsating Heat Pipes

• Experimental and Modelling activities

• 3 Academic staff, 2 Research Fellows, 2 PhD

students at Brighton

• Very close collaboration links with

universities of Bergamo, Milan, Pisa and

Poitiers

• Modelling strengths: DNS/VOF/Lumped

Parameters modelling of two-phase flow

• Experimental strengths: 10 years of thermo-

fluid experiments in micro-gravity in

collaboration with ESA

Prof. Marco Marengo

2

Current Funding

• EPSRC Novel Hybrid Heat Pipe for Space and

Ground Applications (HyHP) with Kayser

Space UK, Libertine and Sustainable Engine

Systems

• 2 Innovate UK projects

• 2 ESA Micro-gravity Applications Projects

(MAP):

-Innovative Wickless Heat Pipe Systems for Ground and Space Applications (INWIP)-Enhanced Condensers in Micro-gravity (ENCOM)

3

SINTERED HEAT PIPETHERMOSYPHON PULSATING HEAT PIPE

CHEAP

DOES NOT WORK

WITHOUT GRAVITY

POSSIBILITY TO WORK

WITHOUT GRAVITY

EXPENSIVE (wick

structure)

Basic comparison of Heat Pipes for space and ground applications

4

TRL 9TRL 9 TRL 4

POSSIBILITY TO WORK

WITHOUT GRAVITY

HIGH POWER (up to

10kW)

MEDIUM 3DPACKAGING

MEDIUM POWER

LOW 3D PACKAGING

HIGH POWER (up to 5kW)

HIGH 3D PACKAGING

CHEAP (capillary pipe)

THERMALLY DRIVEN HEAT TRANSFER DEVICE

• Capillary tube evacuated and then filled with aworking fluid.

• Alternation of VAPOUR PLUGS and

•LIQUID SLUGS.

• A zone where heat enters the device:EVAPORATOR.

• A zone where heat goes out the device:CONDENSER.

• An optional adiabatic zone between theevaporator and the condenser.

LOW TEMPERATURE HEAT SINK

HIGH TEMPERATURE HEAT SOURCE

vl

critg

DgD

Bo

2

2

Pulsating Heat Pipe basic working principles

5

Static Criterion

, 2cr bo

l v

dg

Dynamic Criterion

(Dynamic Criterion 0-g, Baldassari et al. 2013)

,

160 lCr Ga

l l l v

dU g

𝑔 ,cr bod,Cr Gad

EFFECT of GRAVITY

Capillary limit (Kew and Cornwell 1997)

Pipe I.D. → 𝑄

CAPILLARY LIMIT:

Up to a point…

Theoretical Design performance of a PHP

However…

Therefore PHPs are potentially very well suited for high power space

heat transfer application… but the governing physics are complex

and need further research/modelling…

6

1g 1.5-1.8 g 0 g 1.5-1.8 g

1 g: Stratified flow1.8 g: Stratified flow0 g: Slug/plug flow activation1.8 g: Stratified flow

PHP experiments in micro-gravity

(Courtesy Novespace)

(Mangini 2017)7

3mm internal diameter – FC72

Modular Thermo-Fluid test rig for micro-gravity experiments: The Brighton Rack

• Modular - Unique facility in UK

• Built to Novespace and ESA specifications

• Flight qualified during ESA’s 66th parabolic

flight campaign. Scheduled for 67th and 68th.

• 60 kg payload (800 x 600 x 800 mm)

• 300W cooling capacity liquid loop (-5 to 60ºC)

• 300W heating liquid loop

• Class 4 laser ready

• Control PCs and data logger

• Various power supplies and ancillaries

• Optical diagnostics

• Mass and heat transfer

• Thermal imaging

To be presented at the 15th UK Heat Transfer Conference – September 2017

8

34th HEXAG meeting – Newcastle University – 20th June 2017

Heat pipes for space & ground

applications:

Marco Marengo’s research group

at the University of Brighton

Dr Nicolas Miché

9

Thank you for your attention