Design description of the ISUS Receiver/Absorber/Converter Configuration and Electrical Test (RACCET)

Molten Boron Phase-Change Thermal Energy Storage: Containment and Applicability to Microsatellites

“…In systems designed with sensible heat thermal storage, the convective heat transfer is generally accomplished by flowing the propellant either through a tortuous foam of heated particles 1 or through narrow channels within the storage material 33,34 . While these systems rely on the sensible heat capacity of the material as its temperature increases, they can be used as the basis for designing a system with the high heat capacity and isothermal operation of phase-changing boron.…”

“…As a first step, for example, the boron nitride-coated boron carbide foam discussed by Kennedy and Palmer 1 could be modified into phase-changing boron particles contained and protected by boron nitride. Likewise, the graphite heat storage and exchange system designed for the ISUS RAC 33,34 could also be modified to contain boron-based storage. It is noted that conduction within a foam of spherical particles to ensure even temperature distribution would present a significant challenge.…”