High Temperature Oscillating Heat Pipe Radiator

High temperature heat rejection is a critical technology gap inhibiting full implementation of nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) for NASA inter-planetary and Lunar Surface missions. Nuclear electric thermal management requires rejection of 4-10MW of power at temperature approaching 900K; the target radiator areal density is <6kg/m2. NASA requires robust coatings exhibiting high emissivity and charge-dissipative characteristics. As stated in the FY24 Z2.01 solicitation ‘High-Temperature Heat Acquisition, Transport, and Rejection’ scope, “the large heat loads associated with nuclear power and propulsion systems require radiators that are a significant fraction of the total mass of the system, so lightweight high-temperature radiators are needed to enable such systems”. ThermAvant Technologies (TAT) proposes to develop an Oscillating Heat Pipe (OHP)-based structurally integrated low areal density radiator to meet this crucial need. TAT will conduct a hardware build/test program to quantify OHP manufacturing, operating metrics, and advances over the current state of the art (SOTA). Scope of this proposed phase I is specifically for novel high-temperature radiator panel development; TAT will partner with coating specialists, and has a separate phase II pending selection for Z2.01 core acquisition and transport.

Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP) Lunar Surface Nuclear Power Systems Planetary Exploration Missions Spacecraft power and propulsion High temperature waste heat recovery Concentrated solar power Hypersonic vehicle thermal management

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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