Theodore J Swanson

US Patent:

48831166, Nov 28, 1989

Filed:

Jan 31, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/304147

Inventors:

Benjamin Seidenberg - Baltimore MD
Theodore D. Swanson - Columbia MD

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

F28D 1502

US Classification:

16510426

Abstract:

A wick for use in a capillary loop pump heat pipe. The wick material is an essentially uniformly porous, permeable, open-cell, silicon dioxide/aluminum oxide inorganic ceramic foam having a silica fiber to alumina fiber ratio, by weight, of about 78 to 22, respectively, a density of 6 lbs/ft. sup. 3, and an average pore size of less than 5 microns. A representative material having these characteristics is Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Inc. HTP 6-22. This material is fully compatible with the FREONs and anhydrous ammonia and allows for the use of these very efficient working fluids, and others, in capillary loops.