Flight Results from the Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CTSU) Flight Experiment on STS-95 1999-01-2085
This paper describes the Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CTSU) flight experiment, which flew as part of the CRYOTSU payload on STS-95 in late 1998. The CTSU flight unit is a dual-volume nitrogen triple-point device with a 140 cc beryllium cryogenic heat exchanger and a 17 liter stainless steel ambient storage tank. During the 9-day flight, the CTSU completed all testing goals including 22 full freeze-thaw and 18 partial freeze-thaw cycles at power levels from 5-9 W. All tests were successful and demonstrated 3000 J of energy storage at 63.15 K. An additional test was performed which demonstrated nitrogen’s solid-solid transition at 35 K with 1000 J of energy storage. The zero-g environment had no discernible impact on CTSU operation.
Citation: Bugby, D. and Stouffer, C., "Flight Results from the Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CTSU) Flight Experiment on STS-95," SAE Technical Paper 1999-01-2085, 1999, https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-2085. Download Citation
Author(s):
David C. Bugby, Charles J. Stouffer
Affiliated:
Swales Aerospace
Pages: 10
Event:
International Conference On Environmental Systems
ISSN:
0148-7191
e-ISSN:
2688-3627
Also in:
SAE 1999 Transactions - Journal of Aerospace-V108-1
Related Topics:
Heat exchangers
Storage
Steel
Beryllium
Microgravity
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