宇宙用逆止弁付振動流型ヒートパイプの軌道上実証結果

抄録

An oscillating heat pipe (OHP) is desired as an excellent thermal control device for the thermal management system of future spacecraft with larger heat dissipation, and a flat-plate heat pipe (FHP), a type of OHP with check valves, has been developed. Applying FHP to spacecraft, the heat transfer characteristics of FHP under micro-gravity conditions should be examined. The on-orbit experiment of FHP had been conducted since 2012 as one of the Small Demonstration Satellite-4 (SDS-4) missions. FHP showed good heat transfer characteristics, the same as those under 1g conditions, and no degradation was seen for almost 4 years on orbit.