A Direct-Interface Fusible Heat Sink for Astronaut Cooling NASA, Ames Research Center

Format:

Conference/Event

Author/Creator:

Lomax, Curtis, author.

Conference Name:

International Conference On Environmental Systems (1990-07-09 : Williamsburg, Virginia, United States)

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Warrendale, PA SAE International 1990

Summary:

Astronaut cooling during extravehicular activity is a critical design issue in developing a portable life support system that meets the requirements of a space station mission. Some of the requirements are that the cooling device be easily regenerable and nonventing during operation. In response to this, a direct-interface, fusible heat sink prototype with freezable quick-disconnects has been developed. A proof-of-concept prototype has been constructed and tested that consists of an elastic container filled with normal tap water and having two quick-disconnects embedded in a wall. These quick-disconnects are designed so that they may be frozen with the ice and yet still be joined to the cooling system, allowing an immediate flow path. The inherent difficulties in a direct-interface heat sink have been overcome, id est, (1) establishing an initial flow path, (2) avoiding low-flow freeze-up, and (3) achieving adequate heat-transfer rates at the end of the melting process. The requirements, design, fabrication, and testing are discussed

Notes:

Vendor supplied data

Publisher Number:

901433

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license