Modeling and performance of a flat plate heat pipe fin space radiator

This project has been an effort to create a design tool for the evaluation of potential heat pipe fin designs, specifically for flat plate heat pipe fins (FPHPF) used as space radiators. The fin temperature distribution was derived using an energy balance. The solution to the differential equation for the temperature distribution was found using the finite difference method. From this solution, the heat transfer from the fin was found and the efficiency of the fin was calculated. The resulting efficiencies were then plotted as design charts based on the critical parameters. When compared to experimental results of four different tests from the literature, the FPHPF yielded good results. The FPHPF model was also used to consider improvements to existing satellites. The Viking 1 and 2 Orbiters, with a SNAP-19 radioisotope thermal generator, were studied.