A Two-Phase Cooling Loop for Fission Surface Power Waste Heat Transport

Current lunar-based Fission Surface Power (FSP) Systems that will support sustained surface outposts consist of a nuclear reactor with power converters, whose waste heat is transported to radiator panels to be rejected to the environment. The current approach is to transport waste heat using a heavy, pressurized water cooling loop. For each 20 kW of heat rejection, the current water cooling loop components weigh approximately 52 kg due to the large flow rate of water, the large pressure drop, and the pump and other components. Our innovation is a novel Waste Heat Transport System (WHTS) that combines Creare's lightweight radiator technology with a Lightweight Cooling Loop (LCL). Using our approach, we estimate that our LCL will reduce the cooling loop system mass by 60% compared to the current approach. Our approach will have a reduced system pressure, resulting in decreased plumbing size and weight, and eliminate the need for a mechanical pump, increasing system reliability. During the Phase I project, we will establish the feasibility of our innovative, Lightweight Cooling Loop (LCL) by fabricating a fully operational, subscale prototype and testing it under prototypical conditions. During the Phase II project, we will design, fabricate, and deliver to NASA a prototype LCL for integration with our ultra-light radiator.

While the main applications for our innovation are space-based systems, our novel LCL can be applied to commercial thermal management systems that are severely weight constrained. Such systems can benefit from the lightweight, high-temperature capability of our unique innovation. These applications can include radar, aerospace, large scale power systems, and energy recovery applications.

The main application of our innovative Lightweight Cooling Loop (LCL) is for lunar-based Fission Surface Power (FSP). Specifically, these systems will support In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) or Mars robotic and manned missions. Our innovation has significant technical and risk advantages over competing technologies. Thus, it represents the shortest path to an optimal Waste Heat Rejection System (WHTS). We envision integrating our LCL into the 3rd-Generation Radiation Demonstration Unit (RDU) to be sourced by NASA in late 2010. Other applications include long-duration interplanetary and planetary-based missions, mobile power systems, and satellites.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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