Testing of a controller for a hybrid capillary pumped loop thermal control system

A controller for a series hybrid capillary pumped loop (CPL) system for space vehicles that requires no moving parts does not restrict fluid flow has been tested and has demonstrated improved performance characteristics over a plain CPL system and simple hybrid CPL systems. These include: heat load sharing, phase separation, self-regulated flow control and distribution, all independent of most system pressure drop. In addition, the controlled system demonstrated a greater heat transport capability than the simple CPL system but without the large fluid inventory requirement of the hybrid systems. A description of the testing is presented along with data that show the advantages of the system.<<ETX>>