Steady State and Transient Loop Heat Pipe Modeling

Abstract

The NASA-standard thermohydraulic analyzer, SINDA/ FLUINT (Ref 1), has been used to model various aspects of loop heat pipe * (LHP) operation for more than 12 years. Indeed, this code has many features that were specifically designed for just such specialized tasks, and is unique in this respect. Furthermore, SINDA is commonly used at the vehicle (integration) level, has a large user base both inside and outside the aerospace industry, has several graphical user interfaces, preprocessors, postprocessors, has strong links to CAD and structural tools, and has built-in optimization, data correlation, parametric analysis, reliability estimation, and robust design tools.

Mathematical model of a loop heat pipe with cylindrical evaporator and integrated reservoir

“…An elaborated nodal model for a CPL space experiment considering the operation under presence of vapor phase in the liquid channel of the evaporator has been presented in 2000 [24]. Cullimore and Baumann [25] developed a most advanced node-type model of LHP, which was embedded into the SINDA/Fluint fluid-thermal analyzer software. Vlassov et al [26] developed a conception of the LHP modeling at two levels of detailing for application in ESATAN, allowing the model to be incorporated in the thermal model of the entire satellite by the most effective way.…”

Temperature Control With Two Parallel Small Loop Heat Pipes for GLM Program

“…2 Two GLM LHPs on a support frame also accounts for the phase change heat transfer (evaporation and condensation). The modeling technique was documented in detail by Khrustalev (2010) and by Cullimore and Bauman (2000).…”

Transient Modeling of Hybrid Loop Heat Pipe Systems With Multiple Evaporators

“…Following the modeling approach pioneered by Cullimore and Bauman (2000), which was also utilized by Khrustalev (2010a), the modeling philosophy used herein is to represent the HLHPS components with a minimal amount of details, which is still sufficient to capture transients in temperatures, pressures, mass flow rates, and flow qualities across the HLHPS. Consequent analysis of the model predictions leads to a better understanding of the thermal-fluid mechanisms that limit the HLHPS performance envelope.…”