US 12,296,989 B1
Spacecraft thermal systems and methods
Gordon Wu, Melbourne, FL (US); Derek Chan, Boulder, CO (US); Kevin Eugene Weed, Boulder, CO (US); Bryce Moore, Broomfield, CO (US); and Kevin Hoopes, Erie, CO (US)
Assigned to BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems Inc., Broomfield, CO (US)
Filed by BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems Inc., Broomfield, CO (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/676,956.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/152,555, filed on Feb. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/248,840, filed on Sep. 27, 2021.
Int. Cl. B64G 1/50 (2006.01); F28D 15/02 (2006.01); F28D 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/506 (2013.01) [B64G 1/503 (2013.01); F28D 15/0275 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal system, comprising:
a first radiator element, including:
first and second faceplates; and
a core disposed between the first and second faceplates; and
a first heat pipe matrix, including:
a first spreader heat pipe element; and
a first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements,
wherein a first thermal contact area of a first lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is thermally coupled to a first thermal contact segment of the first spreader heat pipe element,
wherein a first thermal contact area of a second lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is thermally coupled to a second thermal contact segment of the first spreader heat pipe element,
wherein the first spreader heat pipe element is a serpentine element,
wherein the first thermal contact segment of the first spreader heat pipe element is connected to the second thermal contact segment of the first spreader heat pipe element by at least a first bend segment of the first spreader heat pipe element, and
wherein the first and second thermal contact segments of the first spreader heat pipe element, the first bend segment of the first spreader heat pipe element, the first thermal contact area of the first lateral heat pipe element, and the first thermal contact area of the second lateral heat pipe element are disposed between the first and second faceplates.
 
16. A heat pipe matrix, including:
a first spreader heat pipe element;
a second spreader heat pipe element;
a first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements; and
a second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements,
wherein the lateral heat pipe elements in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements are L-shaped,
wherein a first end segment of a first lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is thermally coupled and parallel to a first portion of the first spreader heat pipe element,
wherein the first end segment of the first lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements extends in a first direction,
wherein the lateral heat pipe elements in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements are L-shaped,
wherein a first end segment of a first lateral heat pipe element included in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is thermally coupled and parallel to a first portion of the second spreader heat pipe element,
wherein the first end segment of the first lateral heat pipe element included in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements extends in a second direction,
wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction,
wherein a second end segment of the first lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is proximate to the first end segment of the first lateral heat pipe element included in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements,
wherein the first lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is not in contact with any lateral heat pipe element included in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements,
wherein a second end segment of the first lateral heat pipe element included in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is proximate to the first end segment of the first lateral heat pipe element included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements, and
wherein the first lateral heat pipe element included in the second plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is not in contact with any lateral heat pipe elements included in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements.
 
17. A thermal system, comprising:
a first radiator element, including:
first and second faceplates; and
a core disposed between the first and second faceplates;
a first heat pipe matrix, including:
at least a first spreader heat pipe element; and
at least a first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements,
wherein a length of each lateral heat pipe element in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements is thermally coupled to the at least a first spreader heat pipe element along at least a first segment that is parallel to at least a portion of the first spreader heat pipe element,
wherein at least portions of the first heat pipe matrix are disposed between the first and second faceplates,
wherein the at least a first spreader heat pipe element is a serpentine element with a first thermal contact segment that is in contact with a first portion of a length of a first lateral heat pipe element in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements, a second thermal contact segment that is in contact with a first portion of a length of a second lateral heat pipe element in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements, and a bend segment that connects the first thermal contact segment to the second thermal contact segment;
a second spreader heat pipe element,
wherein the second spreader heat pipe element is a serpentine element with a first thermal contact segment that is in contact with a second portion of the length of the first lateral heat pipe element in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements, a second thermal contact segment that is in contact with a second portion of the length of the second lateral heat pipe element in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements, and a bend segment that connects the first thermal contact segment to the second thermal contact segment; and
third and fourth spreader heat pipe elements,
wherein the third and fourth spreader heat pipe elements are straight elements, and
wherein the lateral heat pipe elements in the first plurality of lateral heat pipe elements are U-shaped heat pipe elements that each have a first end segment thermally connected to the third spreader heat pipe element and a second end segment thermally connected to the fourth spreader heat pipe element.