RT Journal Article ID 66527ac478d28761 A1 TurriĆ³n, E. A1 Melendez, Joaquin A1 Mishkinis, Donatas A1 Torres, Alejandro A1 Molina, M. T1 ETHANE TWO-PHASE THERMAL CONTROL HARDWARE (HP, LHP) FOR CRYOGENICS APPLICATIONS JF Heat Pipe Science and Technology, An International Journal JO HPST YR 2014 FD 0000-00-00 VO 5 IS 1-4 SP 465 OP 472 K1 heat pipe K1 loop heat pipe K1 ethane K1 cryogenics K1 loop heat pipe modeling K1 low power performance AB Earth observation, scientific and weather satellites often require cryogenic temperatures for onboard equipment operation. Traditional ammonia two-phase thermal control devices (Loop Heat Pipes and Heat Pipes) operate typically under an operational temperature range from -40 to +80 °C. For applications in the cryogenics and near cryogenics range (temperatures from -130°C to -40°C) another working fluid is needed. However, many cryogenic fluids cannot be directly used in classical ammonia LHP/HP designs since they are in supercritical state at ambient (storage) conditions and require additional volumes and special elements/procedures for starting up. This paper describes the design of ethane LHP and HPs based on classical ammonia LHP/HP architecture and reports test results in vacuum chamber. The ethane LHP showed efficient and stable performance in various hot and cold cases (-100°C, 15W and -40°C, 60W). A thermo-fluid model was validated against results. The ethane HPs were produced and tested for an optical head thermal control application. They were tested for an operative temperature range from -133°C to -73 °C. Maximum heat transfer was determined. Performance at low power was specifically investigated, both in horizontal (0G) and thermosyphon (ground testing) configuration. The stop of active heat transfer above the critical point (32°C) was verified as an additional interesting thermal control feature. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/4b0844fc3a2ef17f,18c058f17ecbe0d2,66527ac478d28761.html