Effect of Compensation Chamber Locationon the Thermal Performance of a Flat Loop Heat Pipe

Hee Soo Myeong; Seok Pil Jang

doi:10.6108/KSPE.2026.30.5.023

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2026 Vol.30, Issue 5 Preview Page Next Page

RESEARCH PAPERS

Effect of Compensation Chamber Locationon the Thermal Performance of a Flat Loop Heat Pipe 평판형 루프 히트파이프 증발기의 보상실 위치가열 성능에 미치는 영향

31 October 2026. pp. 23-31

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Abstract

In this study, the effect of evaporator configuration on the thermal performance of a flat loop heat pipe applied to the thermal management of nuclear electric propulsion reactor cores and power conversion systems, as well as to the electronic components of satellites and exploration rovers, was investigated experimentally and theoretically. As space propulsion systems experience increasing heat generation due to trends toward higher efficiency and integration, an analysis of heat transfer characteristics associated with evaporator configuration is required. Therefore, two evaporator configurations with different compensation chamber locations were fabricated, and their temperature distributions were analyzed. Furthermore, by applying the experimental results to a loop heat pipe thermal performance prediction model, the evaporator with the compensation chamber located opposite the heat source exhibited an approximately 24% higher maximum heat transfer rate.

Keywords

Loop Heat Pipe

Heat Leak

Compensation Chamber

Maximum Heat Transfer Rate

본 연구에서는 핵전기추진 시스템의 원자로 노심 및 전력 변환 계통과 인공위성 및 탐사 로버의 전자 소자 열관리에 적용되는 루프 히트파이프의 증발기 형상이 평판형 루프 히트파이프의 열 성능에 미치는 영향을 실험적 및 이론적으로 분석하였다. 고효율·고집적화로 인해 발열량이 지속적으로 증가하는 우주 추진 시스템의 고열유속 환경에 대응하기 위해, 증발기 형상에 따른 열전달 특성 분석이 요구된다. 이에 본 연구에서는 보상실의 위치가 서로 다른 두 가지 형상의 모사 증발기를 제작하여, 동일한 열부하 조건에서 온도 분포를 비교 분석하였다. 또한 실험 결과를 루프 히트파이프 열 성능 예측 모델에 적용한 결과, 보상실이 열원의 반대면에 배치된 증발기가 약 24% 높은 최대 열전달 성능을 나타내었다.

키워드

루프 히트파이프

열누설

보상실

최대 열전달량

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국추진공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
Journal Title(Ko) :한국추진공학회지
Volume : 30
No :5
Pages :23-31
Received Date : 2026-02-10
Revised Date : 2026-07-27
Accepted Date : 2026-08-11
DOI :https://doi.org/10.6108/KSPE.2026.30.5.023

Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers ISSN:1226-6027(Print) 2288-4548(Online) 한국추진공학회지

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