Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.

Wei-Lin Cho

Gary A Adamson

An orifice insert is provided and includes a center plug and a ring feature. The center plug has first and second ends and an exterior surface extending between the first and second ends. The exterior surface defines multiple inflow channels that extend from the first end toward the second end and terminate at termination points midway between the first and second ends. The ring feature is disposed about the center plug and the multiple inflow channels to define, with the center plug, a plenum with which the termination points of the multiple inflow channels are fluidly communicative.

Evaporator with grooved channels and orifice inserts

Disclosed is an evaporator header insert, including: a header insert body that extends along a body center axis between body inlet and outlet ends, a center passage located within the header insert body, the center passage extending from the body inlet end to the body outlet end along the body center axis, the center passage surface defining: a center passage inlet portion at the body inlet end; a center passage outlet portion, at the body outlet end, that defines a body nozzle portion on the body center axis, wherein the body nozzle portion has a convergent-divergent shape so that the body nozzle portion has a convergent segment, a divergent segment and a neck segment therebetween; and a conical tip member, fixed to the body outlet end and disposed at least partially within the divergent segment of the body nozzle portion so that a conical outlet passage is formed therebetween.

Insert for evaporator header

An insert for a condensing heat exchanger, having: a body extending aft from a forward end to an aft end, and defining: a body exterior surface; a forward segment that extends aft from the forward end of the insert to a first axial location between the forward and aft ends of the insert, along the forward segment the body exterior surface is without openings; a middle segment that extends aft from the first axial location to a second axial location, along the middle segment the body exterior surface is cylindrical; and an aft segment that extends aft from the second axial location to the aft end of the insert, along the aft segment the body exterior surface of the body is cylindrical and defines axially extending grooves, and the grooves are spaced apart from each other and extend forward from the aft end of the insert to the middle segment.

Condensing heat exchanger with flow restricting inserts between the condenser element and the outlet header

An evaporator assembly including an inlet header, an outlet header, and an evaporator body extending from the inlet header to the outlet header. The evaporator body defining a channel fluidly connected to the outlet header. The evaporator assembly further includes a feed tube including: an adapter fluidly connected to the inlet header and a perforated tube fluidly connected to the inlet header through the adapter. The perforated tube including a first end attached to the adapter, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of orifices fluidly connecting the perforated tube to the channel. The perforated tube extends within the channel.

Evaporator with feed tube flow distributors for random gravitation and acceleration fields

An evaporator element is provided and includes a body defining channels, each of which includes grooves respectively delimited by first and second interior facing sidewalls of the body which form a base and an apex with an apex angle opposite the base and defined such that, for a fluid flow moving through one of the channels in a microgravity environment a portion of the fluid flow in a liquid phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the base to the apex and a portion of the fluid flow in a vapor phase within a groove of the channel will move in the groove from the apex to the base.

Evaporator with grooved channels

A gas trap assembly including a base connector housing including an inflow port and an outflow port, a reservoir fluidly connecting the inflow port to the outflow port, and a grooved porous media located within the reservoir. The grooved porous media including a plurality of grooves and composed of a material having a plurality of pores of a selected size. The grooved porous media fluidly divides the reservoir into two portions in such a way that a working fluid flowing from the inflow port to the outflow port must flow through the plurality of grooves and the plurality of pores of the grooved porous media. The plurality of grooves and the plurality of pores are configured to prevent gas from passing through the grooved porous media.

Grooved porous media gas trap for terrestrial and microgravity environment

Disclosed is a swirl generator for an evaporator, having: a body that extends along a body-center axis between opposing inlet and outlet ends, and includes: a fluid inlet at the inlet end; an outer surface that, at that the outlet end, defines an outlet region with a curved outer boundary forming a convex curve that extends radially inward from an outer diameter surface of the body to an outer axial surface of the body; a center passage formed within the body that extends from the inlet towards the outlet along the body-center axis; and a swirl passage formed at the outlet end of the body, the swirl passage extending between the center passage and the curved outer boundary along a swirl passage axis, whereby a fluid entering from the inlet exits the body at the curved outer boundary, the swirl passage axis forming an acute angle with the body-center axis.

Swirl generator

A thermal management loop system may include an accumulator, an evaporator in fluid receiving communication with the accumulator, a condenser in fluid receiving communication with the evaporator, and a rotary separator in fluid receiving communication with the condenser. Gas exiting the rotary separator may recirculate back to the condenser and liquid exiting the rotary separator may flow to the accumulator. The thermal management loop system may be a dual-mode system and thus may be operable in a powered-pump mode or a passive-capillary mode.

Two-phase thermal loop with rotary separation

A multifunctional phase separation apparatus is provided herein. The multifunctional phase separation apparatus includes a porous tube, a phase separator, and liquid collecting modules. The porous tube includes a first entry port and an exit port. The phase separator includes a second entry port. The multifunctional phase separation apparatus also includes a reservoir. The reservoir is on a first end of the liquid collecting modules.

Multifunctional phase separation apparatus

A thermal management loop system may include an accumulator, an evaporator in fluid receiving communication with the accumulator, a condenser in fluid receiving communication with the evaporator, and a membrane separator in fluid receiving communication with the condenser. Gas exiting the membrane separator may recirculate back to the condenser and liquid exiting the membrane separator may flow to the accumulator. The thermal management loop system may be a dual-mode system and thus may be operable in a powered-pump mode or a passive-capillary mode.

Two-phase thermal loop with membrane separation

A device for separating gas and liquid from a mixture of gas and liquid phases includes a fluid guide member comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected by a conduit configured as an elongated spiral disposed about an axis. A liquid coalescing medium is disposed on an exterior surface of the fluid guide radially outward from the elongated spiral conduit with respect to the axis. The separator also includes a plurality of radial channels providing radial flow paths for fluid from the elongated spiral conduit to the coalescing medium.

Gas-liquid phase separator

A heat transport device includes a heat pipe having a capillary container having a wick and a working fluid arranged therein. A first heat source is coupled to a first end of the capillary container to define an evaporator section and a cold sink is coupled to a second end of the capillary container to define a condenser section. A capillary pump includes an evaporator and a reservoir configured to store an additional supply of working fluid. A second heat source coupled to the evaporator is configured to vaporize the working fluid arranged therein. A fluid loop couples the capillary pump to the heat pipe. Upon detection of a predetermined condition indicative that a majority of the working fluid within the heat pipe is frozen, the capillary pump is configured to supply vaporized working fluid to the heat pipe.

Capillary pump assisted heat pipe

A passive liquid collecting device has a reservoir with an outlet and one or more rigid structures within the reservoir. The rigid structures are configured to collect a liquid and direct the liquid to the outlet. Porous capillary media are supported by the rigid structures. A thermal control loop is also disclosed.

Passive liquid collecting device

A system may include a pump, an evaporator, a condenser, an accumulator, a pump bypass line, a first valve, and a second valve. The system may operate in a powered-pump mode, in which the pump drives fluid circulation, the first valve prevents fluid circulation through the pump bypass line, the pump pumps liquid from the accumulator to the evaporator, gas exiting the evaporator flows to the condenser, liquid exiting the evaporator flows through the second valve to the accumulator, and liquid exiting the condenser flows to the accumulator. The system may operate in a passive-capillary mode, in which capillary pressure in the evaporator drives fluid circulation, the first valve prevents fluid circulation through the pump, liquid flows from the accumulator, through the pump bypass line, and to the evaporator, gas exiting the evaporator flows to the condenser, the second valve is closed, and liquid exiting the condenser flows the accumulator.

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Unionville, CT, United States of America

Wei-Lin Cho