Steady state analysis of the USAF Phillips Laboratory Capillary Pumped Loop Testbed

A steady state thermal and pressure drop model for a capillary pumped loop (CPL) was created in an effort to begin the characterization of the Capillary Pumped Loop Testbed at Phillips Laboratory. This model is an adaptation of an existing model for the loop heat pipe (LHP), and serves to calculate flow rates, temperatures, thermodynamic fluid conditions, and pressure drops throughout the system. The developed model can accommodate one or two evaporators and one condenser. Comparison to measured data from the testbed shows the model as a satisfactory prediction tool for temperature distribution, but fails to adequately predict the pressure drops encountered in the system. Recommendations are given to further analyze the heat transfer conductances in the evaporator and condenser using a more sophisticated calculation/model, and include a more sophisticated model of the pressure drop mechanisms