Miniaturization Study of Heat Exhausting Radiator of Lunar Base

Abstract

Several programs to construct the lunar base are in progress to develop the lunar resources such as helium3.
In order to remove heat from the lunar base, the radiative heat exchangers can be used, however they have been estimated at both large and heavy.
To miniaturize the area of radiative heat exchangers, we studied two subjects, one is the increase of the operating temperature of the radiative heat exchanger, the other is the improvement of the radiative heat exchanger configuration.
The efficiencies of the three cycles are compared, and a Rankine cycle booster heat pump using high temperature refrigerant is added to conventional cycle to attain higher temperature level.
A radiative heat exchanger composed of vertical radiating panels, horizontal reflectors, and heat reservoirs is selected, to maximize the capacity on the lunar surface.
The surface area of this radiative heat exchanger is estimated about a 50% smaller than that of the conventional cycle.