Dynamic model of capillary pumped loop with unsaturated porous wick for terrestrial application

This paper presents a dynamic model of a Capillary Pumped Loop designed for gravitational applications. The CPL model is divided into subsystems, for which transient mass, energy, and momentum balances have been developed. The heat and mass transfer inside the evaporator structure is precisely described by a 2D mathematical model, which takes into account the existence of a vapor pocket inside the porous wick. The liquid lines are discretized into small elements. The comparison of the numerical results and data experiment validates the proposed model in a transient regime. The model is then used to analyze the thermohydraulic behavior of a capillary pumped loop by modifying external conditions such as the cold source temperature and the operating conditions such as the reservoir temperature.