ADVANCED HEAT PIPES FOR LOW/CRYOGENIC COOLING APPLICATIONS
Thermacore International, Inc.Lancaster, PA
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Developed high-lift flexible porous metal wicks for
cryogenic heat pipes. Demonstrated new limit to supercritical startup of
cryogenic heat pipes. Demonstrated applicability to
refrigerator/freezers. Demonstrated operation at -25C during STS
launch conditions.
COMMERCIALIZATION Technology is in place for commercial Stirling
refrigerator thermal interfaces. Technology in place for cooled high-power
electronics. Company has gone multi-National. Annual commercial growth of 30% every year
since 1994. See following website for more information on this
technology: www.thermacore.com
SmallBusinessInnovationResearch
GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS Stirling Orbiter Refrigerator/Freezer (SOR/F) flew successfully on
STS-60. Thermoelectric (solid state) freezer interfaces for Space Station Cryogenically cooled infrared sensors, medical equipment, and
electronics. Extending this technology for loop heat pipes for spacecraft.
1989 Phase 2, SS-020, 5/22/99
Goddard Space Flight Center
INNOVATION
Heat pipes with advanced porous metal wicks for low temperature uses
ADVANCED HEAT PIPES FOR LOW/CRYOGENIC COOLING APPLICATIONS
Point of Contact:- NASA - Ted Swanson; 301-286-8618- Thermacore - Elaine Risner; 717-569-6551
717-569-8424 fax
