Electrochemically-driven Fluid Pump for Spacecraft Thermal Control

A high-temperature, low-power electrochemically-driven fluid cooling pump is currently being developed by Lynntech, Inc. With no electric motor and minimal lightweight components, the pump is significantly lighter than conventional rotodynamic and displacement pumps. Reliability and robustness is achieved with the absence of rotating or moving components (apart from the bellows). Lynntech has recently demonstrated the feasibility of long term pump operation at temperatures of up to 100 °C, and extended storage at temperatures as low as -60 °C. Characteristics of the electrochemically-driven pump are described and the benefits of the technology as a replacement for electric motor pumps in mechanically pumped single-phase fluid loops (MPFL), such as that used in the Mars Pathfinder (MPF), is discussed.