Research on the optimal design of anti-collision heat pipe radiator for nuclear powered spacecraft

The exponential increase of space debris will have serious consequences for the flight safety of nuclear-powered spacecraft. This research establishes a 2D calculation program 2D-INCHPR for in-direct contact heat pipe radiators. Based on the whale optimization algorithm, a multi objective optimization analysis of the radiator with multi parameter coupling is carried out. A space debris impact resistant radiator is devised without reducing heat transfer efficiency, providing a theoretical basis for structural optimization of space nuclear power system. The method of calculating alkali metal heat pipes transient and steady-state multi-physics coupling characteristics of in space nuclear power systems based on gas dynamics theory is extended to a 2D model of entire heat pipe domain. A 2D program 2D-NCAMHP is established for multi- physics coupling calculation of space alkali metal heat pipes. The optimized structural parameters of the radiation heat sink with low probability of space debris impact after optimization design are Lf = 0.0537 m, Tinl = 852.2493 K, lhpc = 1.9298 m, qm = 7.4340 kg·s-1. The thermal and hydraulic characteristics of alkali metal heat pipes were obtained through simulation analysis, which provides a theoretical basis for the optimization design of radiator structures in nuclear powered spacecraft.