Phase Change Material Heat Exchanger (PCM HX)

The goal of the Phase Change Material Heat Exchanger (PCM HX) project is to develop and demonstrate viable PCM HXs for use by future exploration vehicles in need of supplemental heat rejection. One of the project’s goals is to demonstrate a wax-based PCM HX on the International Space Station utilizing the unique capabilities that only the ISS can provide. The project will lean on a partnership with the ISS program and Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) to help develop a unique PCM HX test platform to interface with the ISS EXPRESS rack. Furthermore, a partnership with United Technologies Aerospace Systems will culminate in the delivery of a scaled Orion Wax PCM HX for testing on the ISS.

In parallel to this effort, the project will focus on developing the next generation of water-based PCM HXs. For the same energy storage requirement, the use of water over wax yields the potential to save a considerable amount of mass/volume of a PCM HX. This is due to water’s relatively high heat of fusion over other PCMs. The project will leverage partnerships with small business, via a SBIR Technology Maturation Plan and the State of Louisiana, to develop water-based PCM HXs. Upon completion of the development effort, the project will demonstration the capability of a water based PCM HX on the ISS. The strength of the project comes from the various partnerships and lean engineering approaches to achieve the overall goal of developing and demonstrating lightweight PCM HXs for future exploration vehicles.