Used to investigate and qualify the thermal performance of advanced two-phase devices.

Sol-Gel Loop Heat Pipe, A-CPL Demonstration, NRL Loop Heat Pipe
Sol-Gel Loop Heat Pipe, A-CPL Demonstration, NRL Loop Heat Pipe

Capabilities

  • Investigate/qualify thermal performance of advanced two-phase devices:
    • Heat pipes
    • Capillary Pumped Loops (CPLs)
    • Phase-Change Materials (PCMs)
  • Develop and demonstrate new concepts to improve heat capacity, weight, and size of future thermal control systems

Facilities

  • CPL/LHP testbeds
      Small TV Chamber, Sol-Gel Loop CPL/LHP Wick Test Station
      Small TV Chamber, Sol-Gel Loop CPL/LHP Wick Test Station
    • CPL3 Development loop
    • CPL metal wick test loop
    • Sol-Gel loop heat pipe
    • NRL (nickel wick) loop heat pipe
    • Advanced-CPL (A-CPL) demonstration testbed
  • Wick test station
  • CPL/LHP charging station
  • Thermal vacuum chambers