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Design Evolution of the Capillary Pumped Loop (CAPL 2) Flight Experiment
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Abstract
The Capillary Pumped Loop Flight Experiment (CAPL 2) employs a passive two-phase thermal control system that uses the latent heat of vaporization of ammonia to transfer heat over long distances. CAPL was designed as a prototype of the Earth Observing System (EOS) instrument thermal control systems. The purpose of the mission was to provide validation of the system performance in microgravity, prior to implementation on EOS. CAPL 1 was flown on STS-60 in February, 1994, with some unexpected results related to gravitational effects on two-phase systems. Start-up difficulties on CAPL 1 led to a redesign of the experiment (CAPL 2) and a reflight on STS-69 in September of 1995. The CAPL 2 flight was extremely successful and the new “starter pump” design is now baselined for the EOS application. This paper emphasizes the design history, the CAPL 2 design, and lessons learned from the CAPL program.
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Butler, D., Ottenstein, L., and Ku, J., "Design Evolution of the Capillary Pumped Loop (CAPL 2) Flight Experiment," SAE Technical Paper 961431, 1996, https://doi.org/10.4271/961431.Also In
References
- Butler, D. Hoang, T. “The Capillary Pumped Loop Flight Experiment (CAPL), A Pathfinder for EOS,” Space Shuttle Small Payloads Symposium New Carrolton, MD October 1992
- Ottenstein, L. Ku, J. Butler, D. “Thermal Vacuum Testing of the Capillary Pumped Loop Flight Experiment,” SAE Paper 941599 , 24th ICES Conference Friedrichshafen, Germany June 1994
- Butler, D. Ottenstein, L. Ku, J. “Flight Testing of the Capillary Pumped Loop Flight Experiment,” SAE Paper 951566 , 25th ICES Conference San Diego, CA July 1995
- “CAPL 2 Flight Verification Delta-Reflight Design Review, (DRDR)” NASA Goddard Space Flight Center January 11 1995
- Ku, J. Nguyen, T. Yun, J. “A Prototype Capillary Starter Pump Cold Plate,” SAE Paper 951567 , 25th ICES Conference San Diego, CA July 1995
- Hoang, T. Ku, J. “Theory of Hydrodynamic Stability for Capillary Pumped Loops,” National Heat Transfer Conference Portland, Oregon August 1995
- Ku, J. Hoang, T. “An Experimental Study of Pressure Oscillation and Hydrodynamic Stability in a Capillary Pumped Loop,” National Heat Transfer Conference Portland, Oregon August 1995
- Ku, J. “Start-up Issues of Capillary Pumped Loops,” Ninth International Heat Pipe Conference Albuquerque, NM May 1995
- Ku, J. Ottenstein, L. Butler, D. “Performance of the CAPL 2 Flight Experiment,” SAE paper, 26th ICES Conference Monterey, CA July 1996
- “CAPL 2 Flight Verification Industry Debriefing,” NASA Goddard Space Flight Center November 15 1995