Report on Innovative Thermal Management Concepts

Abstract

In this document the various approaches for a global thermal management are illustrated. The descriptions of the four concepts, which are being considered in THOR, are combined with a verification that the underlying physical phenomena include a sufficiently high potential for improving equilibration of thermal loading by transferring heat efficiently from highly loaded surface areas to less loaded regions, or reduction of surface temperatures, which are the two principal targets aimed at in THOR. In addition, the framework for thermal validation of the concepts is analysed in detail. Validation testing is planned to be carried out at DLR’s arc heated facility L3K. Available model configurations are assessed with regard to their particular suitability for the THOR requirements. Appropriate facility operating conditions and test parameters are considered and assessed for a specification of the main operational and geometrical parameters for the validation tests. Finally, the particular impacts of these specifications on the various test configurations are being described.