Solar dynamic heat pipe development and endurance test. Monthly technical progress report number 3, 28 July--27 August 1987

The Space Station requires a high-level of reliable electric power. The baseline approach is to utilize a hybrid system in which power is provided by photovoltaic arrays and by solar dynamic power conversion modules. The organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engine is one approach to solar dynamic conversion. The ORC provides the attributes of high efficiency at low temperature and compact simple designs utilizing conventional techniques and materials. The heat receiver is one area which must be addressed in applying the proven ORC to long life applications such as the Space Station. Heat pipes with integral thermal energy storage (TES) canisters and a toluene heater tube are the prime components of the heat receiver from the Phase B preliminary design. This contract is a task order type addressing the design, fabrication and testing of a full scale heat pipe. The primary activities during the report period were the fabrication of three 74.4 inch long LiOH canisters and a 72 inch long toluene heater tube. Progress on other tasks and objectives of future tasks are described