Test loops for two-phase thermal management system components

Two mechanically pumped two-phase test rigs were built at NLR in order to experimentally study critical issues of spacecraft two-phase thermal management systems: - a 5 kW, 31 mm ID, freon loop, focusing on the critical components of the ESA Two-Phase Heat Transport System. - a 30000 W, 4.93 mm ID, ammonia loop, to support the development of the...

Development of a sensor for high-quality two-phase flow

The monitoring of the quality of the two-phase mixture at various locations in the system is a valuable, possibly indispensable, part of the control system needed to properly operate a two-phase heat transport system for large spacecraft. Based on a trade-off of various quality monitoring concepts, NLR started to develop a dedicated quality...