Direct condensation radiator for spacecraft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG.
1 is a perspective view of a space vehicle 10.
Space vehicle 10 includes a platform or core carrier 12, a payload mounting area 14, solar panels 16 and 18, propulsion unit 20, interface 22 for orbital manned vehicle (OMV) servicing, and (SCAR) 24 for additional payload carrier.
An antenna 26 provides for communication.
The solar panels 16 and 18 produce electrical energy which drives the various sensors and functions of the space vehicle.
As mentioned, unavoidable inefficiencies in the energy utilizing equipment result in waste heat which must be removed from the spacecraft to maintain a stable temperature.
Some heat radiation is provided by body-mounted radiators located in a region 28.
The locations of the body-mounted radiators may not be convenient for thermal connection to sources of waste heat, or the amount of heat radiating surface may not be adequate to the volume of waste heat to be handled.
For this purpose, a further free standing heat radiator assembly illustrated as 30 is provided.
FIG.
2a a side elevation view of free standing heat radiator assembly 30.
As illustrated in FIG.
2a, the free standing radiator assembly includes an elongated vapor manifold, plenum or header 210 which extends the length of the radiator and which receives at its left end coolant vapor which carries with it in the form of latent heat of vaporization waste heat extracted from a source of waste heat (not illustrated).
An elongated liquid manifold or header 212 runs parallel to vapor manifold 210 and receives from individual radiators or radiator panels 222, 224 .
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coolant which has been cooled into a liquid form.
The liquid coolant is returned to the sources of waste heat for further cooling thereof.
Pairs of coupling units 214, 216; 218, 220 connect individual heat radiators 222, 224 to vapor manifold 210 and to liquid manifold 212.
Coupling units 214-220 and other coupling units not illustrated in FIG.
2a include controllable valves and may include sensing units, as described below