Fluid-pumped radiators are widely used to dissipate thermal load from orbiting space capsules to maintain the desired temperature range. Fluid circulated through the heat generating systems are pumped through the space radiator, which in turn dissipates energy to deep space. Based on the flow path, radiators are classified into series and parallel radiator configurations. As part of realizing radiators for future space missions, experimental studies are carried out in a thermovac chamber to assess the thermal and hydraulic performances of space radiators and compare them for different configurations and working fluids. The paper details the experimental schematics for the different studies, the results of the experiments, and their validation. Series radiator configuration is found to have better thermal performance but lower hydraulic performance compared to parallel radiator configuration. Working fluids with higher specific heat are found to give better thermal performance. A configuration that gives optimum performance in terms of thermal performance and pumping power is evolved based on the studies.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.