Matching Testing Possibilities and Needed Experiments for Successful Vapor Compression Cycles in Microgravity

Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, USA

^a Corresponding author: brendel@purdue.edu
^b Corresponding author: jbraun@purdue.edu
^c Corresponding author: groll@purdue.edu

Abstract

The literature shows five decades of interest in vapor compression cooling for spacecraft, while only very few conclusions can be drawn because of either non-systematic approaches or sparsely documented experiments. In contrast, the demand for high COP refrigerators and freezers has increased with the emerging plans of long duration manned space travel. Research is needed exploiting all available testing approaches to investigate two-phase cycles in microgravity environments. This paper presents relevant testing possibilities with their characteristics and outlines open questions regarding vapor compression cycles in space. Beneficial experiments are derived from open questions and matched with available testing methods to prescribe a path towards reliable and efficient refrigeration systems in microgravity.