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Additive Manufacturing of Heat Pipe Wicks

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX14CC90P
Agency Tracking Number: 145236
Amount: $124,561.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: H8.02
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2014
Award Year: 2014
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2014-06-20
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2014-12-19
Small Business Information
780 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA 17601-4797
United States
DUNS: 055625685
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 John Thayer
 Principal Investigator
 (717) 519-3136
 J.G.Thayer@Thermacore.com
Business Contact
 Nelson Gernert
Title: VP of Engineering
Phone: (717) 519-5817
Email: n.j.gernert@thermacore.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Wick properties are often the limiting factor in a heat pipe design. Current technology uses conventional sintering of metal powders, screen wick, or grooves to fabricate realtively simplistic wick geometries. Additive manufacturing (laser sintering) of a porous structure would allow much greater freedom in defining the wick geometry and properties. One example is the RDU thermosyphon wick. Valuable real estate was consumed for a liquid reservoir for freeze/thaw tolerance. A more complex laser-sintered geometry could put the reservoir in the center, allowing greater evaporator area, lower heat flux, and lower DT. Another example is loop heat pipes, which are in limited use due to the cost. Laser sintering of an LHP directly in to the evaporator bodye could greatly lower cost, making LHP vaible for commercial use. Applying laser sintering to develop complex wick geometries can greatly extend heat pipe heat transport capabilities and lower cost.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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