3. Electronics Thermal Control in Actual Situations
Period:
2007 / Present
Description:
This project involves experimental research on heat pipe technology applied on electronics cooling in micro-gravity environments. In an initial stage, several heat sinks and thermal control technologies will be tested on board of a sub-orbital rocket. Results from this stage will be evaluated for later use in thermal control aboard of the International Space Station (ISS). An initial suggestion is the use of a heat pipe attached to a laptop computer, or to a data acquisition system, in order to store information of the functioning of the device. Data collected from the research rocket will aid in the selection of a heat pipe with the best thermal performance to be attached to a specific device. Heat pipes with complex geometries, as well as several curves and slopes, are strongly influenced by gravitational force. An example would be a laptop computer, in which the little physical space and the great amount of heat to be spread limit the development of the intended device. On zero-gravity, some phenomena may control the working fluid flow, therefore improving or jeopardizing the thermal performance of the heat pipe. More detailed research must be performed in order to improve heat pipes for space applications, which improves the functioning of an essential device, both on space or on the ground, such as a laptop computer.
Members:
Kleber Vieira de Paiva
Leonardo Kessler Slongo
Marcia Barbosa Henriques Mantelli
Financing:
Agência Espacial Brasileira - AEB (financial aid)
