Investigation of heat transfer characteristics in heat pipe heat exchanger for space application

Space applications demand efficient thermal management systems, and heat pipes have proven to be indispensable in this regard. This research focuses on enhancing the performance of heat pipes through a systematic study of different working fluids and heat pipe orientations. An experimental setup is designed to evaluate the heat transfer rates of space-grade heat pipes employing distinct working fluids as Ethanol. The investigation involves a comprehensive analysis of heat transfer performance under varying angles of the heat pipe. This parameter is critical in space applications where thermal management must adapt to dynamic environmental conditions. The experiment aims to provide valuable insights into the influence of different fluids and orientation angles on the heat transfer capabilities of space-ready heat pipes. The obtained results are expected to contribute to the optimization of heat pipe designs for spacecraft heating & cooling applications, ultimately for enhancing thermal management systems in spacecraft. The comparative analysis shows the improvement of effectiveness as 21% and heat transfer rate of 1078 W/m²K. The findings will not only broaden our understanding of heat transfer mechanisms within space-grade heat pipes but also guide future developments in the field of spacecraft thermal management.