Advancements in Pulsating Heat Pipes: Comparative Analysis and Applications in Space Thermal Control

The development of Pulsating Heat Pipes (PHP) offers significant advancements in thermal control technologies. This paper reviews the fundamental mechanisms of PHPs, manufacturing processes, and focuses on how PHP fit into the current thermal architecture for satellite, payload, and instrument thermal control to identify the best use cases and application of the emerging technology. Comparative analyses are conducted between PHPs and adjacent thermal control technologies. PHPs are contrasted with conduction methods, focusing on transient versus steady-state conditions, mass considerations, and performance against aluminum, copper, and graphite-embedded sheets. Further comparisons are made with two-phase heat transfer technologies such as aluminum-ammonia Constant Conductance Heat Pipes (CCHP), focusing on transport distance and heat flux limitations, and with Space-rated Copper Water Heat Pipes (SCWHP), addressing heat flux, freeze/thaw cycles, and volume constraints. The paper also evaluates PHPs against Cu-Methanol Heat Pipes as well as Loop Heat Pipes (LHP) and Pumped Fluid Loops (PFL) regarding size, temperature differential, and additional control possibilities. The review of thermal findings offers insight into the application of PHPs, highlighting their potential for thermal management in space applications. By understanding the unique advantages and limitations of PHPs compared to traditional and advanced thermal control technologies, designers can make informed decisions about integrating PHPs into satellite, payload, and instrument thermal architectures.