Flight Results from the Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CTSU) Flight Experiment on STS-95

1999-01-2085

07/12/1999

Event
International Conference On Environmental Systems
Authors Abstract
Content
This paper describes the Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CTSU) flight experiment, which flew as part of the CRYOTSU payload on STS-95 in late 1998. The CTSU flight unit is a dual-volume nitrogen triple-point device with a 140 cc beryllium cryogenic heat exchanger and a 17 liter stainless steel ambient storage tank. During the 9-day flight, the CTSU completed all testing goals including 22 full freeze-thaw and 18 partial freeze-thaw cycles at power levels from 5-9 W. All tests were successful and demonstrated 3000 J of energy storage at 63.15 K. An additional test was performed which demonstrated nitrogen’s solid-solid transition at 35 K with 1000 J of energy storage. The zero-g environment had no discernible impact on CTSU operation.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-2085
Pages
10
Citation
Bugby, D., and Stouffer, C., "Flight Results from the Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CTSU) Flight Experiment on STS-95," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-2085, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-2085.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Jul 12, 1999
Product Code
1999-01-2085
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English