Simulation of a Transient Failure Behavior of a Space Radiator Based on Variable Conductance Heat Pipes

This paper is related to the theoretical investigation of a space radiator with integrated multiple variable conductance heat pipes. Such a radiator is desirable to keep temperature variations of sensitive amplifiers in communication satellites within a few degrees, independent on their heat dissipation. For the purpose of dynamic studies of this kind of cooling system three aluminum/acetone heat pipes controlled by argon gas are thermally coupled in the evaporator and condenser area. A finite difference analysis is applied to study the system's response in case of failure of one of the heat pipes. The effects of change of spacing between the heat pipes and slitting of the radiator are mentioned.