| Title | Heat-Switch Device Boosts Lunar Rover Longevity In Harsh Moon Climate | |
| Date | Monday June 10, @11:38AM | |
| Author | hubie | |
| Topic | ||
| from the very-cool-idea dept. | ||
Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
Astronauts driving a vehicle around the landscape of the moon must not only face dangers related to [low] gravity and falling into craters, but also the problem of extreme fluctuations in temperature. The lunar environment oscillates between blistering highs of 127°C (260°F) and frigid lows of -173°C (-280°F).
Future missions to explore the moon will need reliable machines that can function under these harsh conditions. This led a team from Nagoya University in Japan to invent a heat-switch device that promises to extend the operational lifespan of lunar-roving vehicles. Their study, conducted in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, was published in the journal Applied Thermal Engineering.
"Heat-switch technology that can switch between daytime heat dissipation and nighttime insulation is essential for long-term lunar exploration," said lead researcher Masahito Nishikawara. "During the day, the lunar rover is active, and the electronic equipment generates heat. Since there is no air in space, the heat generated by the electronics must be actively cooled and dissipated. On the other hand, during extremely cold nights, electronics must be insulated from the outside environment so that they don't get too cold."
[...] The thermal control device developed by the team combines a loop heat pipe (LHP) with an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump. During the day, the EHD pump is inactive, allowing the LHP to operate as usual. In lunar rovers, the LHP uses a refrigerant that cycles between vapor and liquid states.
When the device heats up, the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator vaporizes, releasing heat through the rover's radiator. The vapor then condenses back into liquid, which returns to the evaporator to absorb heat again. This cycle is driven by capillary forces in the evaporator, making it energy efficient.
At night, the EHD pump applies pressure opposite to the LHP flow, stopping the movement of the refrigerant. Electronics are completely insulated from the cold night environment with minimal electricity use.
[...] The implications of this technology extend beyond lunar rovers to broader applications in spacecraft thermal management. Integrating EHD technology into thermal fluid control systems could improve heat transfer efficiency and mitigate operational challenges. In the future, this could play an important role in space exploration.
The development of this heat-switch device marks an important milestone in developing technology for long-term lunar missions and other space exploration endeavors. All of which means that, in the future, lunar rovers and other spacecraft should be better equipped to operate in the extreme environments of space.
More information: Masahito Nishikawara et al, Demonstration of heat switch function of loop heat pipe controlled by electrohydrodynamic conduction pump, Applied Thermal Engineering (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.123428
[Ed Note: Corrected first line to read 'low gravity' - not zero gravity: 20240610-13:29 JR]
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printed from SoylentNews, Heat-Switch Device Boosts Lunar Rover Longevity In Harsh Moon Climate on 2024-09-01 00:58:40