Thermofluidic behavior of a 2-m nitrogen-charged cryogenic capillary pumped loop during its supercritical startup

Abstract

A cryogenic capillary pumped loop (CCPL) is a highly efficient two-phase capillary-force-driven heat transport device that operates at cryogenic temperatures. CCPL satisfies the demands for space applications in cryogenic regions as it can transport heat over long distances without mechanical moving parts. In this study, the transient internal flow during the supercritical startup of CCPL was predicted, and various temperature relationships were used to determine whether CCPL starts up or not. The utilized CCPL comprised a wick (pore radius = 1.0 μm), exhibited a heat transport distance of 2 m, and was filled with nitrogen as the working fluid. The supercritical startup experiments were performed at a temperature range of 77–300 K; the startup procedure was initiated when the maximum temperature of CCPL decreased to ∼150 K. Three different liquid supply cycles were tested during the supercritical startup, and the startup time was reduced (a maximum and minimum of 4.1 and 1.9 h, respectively). CCPL started when the evaporator temperature was below the cold reservoir temperature. Thus, the temperature relationship between the cold reservoir and evaporator at the time of applying the heat load to the evaporator could be used to determine the possibility of starting CCPL. The startup was considered successful when the cold reservoir temperature was higher than the evaporator temperature, as the cold reservoir, which exhibited a two-phase state, supplied sufficient liquid to the evaporator, filling the inside of the evaporator with liquid.