Heat transport capability and compensation chamber influence in loop heat pipes performance

The development of the loop heat pipe technology for application in future space missions requires that certain aspects related to the operation of this device in regard to the heat transport, geometry and selected working fluid must be carefully considered. As efforts have been focused in the construction of loop heat pipes able to manage up to 80 W of applied heat using an alternative working fluid, designing and testing these devices have shown important results. Two loop heat pipes have been built and tested, where they differ from each other on their compensation chamber geometry and use high grade acetone as working fluid, in substitution of the so-used ammonia. Life tests have shown reliable operation for both loop heat pipes with successful startups and continuous operation without temperature overshoot or evaporator dryout. The life tests results investigation have generated important data that has been applied on the design and construction of loop heat pipes toward their use in future space applications.