Radiative cooling system

Abstract

A radiator unit for radiating heat from a heat source into space. The radiating unit includes an inflatable radiating panel comprising a plurality of inflatable tubes inflated with and adapted to contain and permit a circulation through the plurality of inflatable tubes of a low mass gas, a sufficient quantity of low mass gas to inflate said plurality of inflatable tubes and a blower unit for forcing the circulation of said low mass gas through the heat source and said plurality of inflatable tubes.

1 . A radiator unit for radiating heat from a heat source into space, said radiating unit comprising:
 A) an inflatable radiating panel comprising a plurality of inflatable tubes inflated with and adapted to contain and permit a circulation through the plurality of inflatable tubes of a low mass gas,   B) a sufficient quantity of low mass gas to inflate said plurality of inflatable tubes,   C) a blower unit for forcing the circulation of said low mass gas through the heat source and said plurality of inflatable tubes.   
   
   
       2 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said low mass gas is hydrogen. 
   
   
       3 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said unit is adapted to operate as a heat sink in a turbine generator system for the production of electric power in outer space. 
   
   
       4 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said unit is adapted to operate as a heat sink in a thermoelectric system for the production of electric power in outer space. 
   
   
       5 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said unit is adapted to operate as a heat sink for electrical equipment in outer space. 
   
   
       6 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said radiator unit further comprises a heat exchanger for transfer of heat form a primary fluid to said low mass gas. 
   
   
       7 . The radiator unit as in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of inflatable tubes is comprised of a thermoset polyimide. 
   
   
       8 . The radiator unit as in  claim 2  wherein said plurality of inflatable tubes is comprised of a polyethylene terephthalate. 
   
   
       9 . The radiator unit as in  claim 4  wherein said plurality of inflatable tubes is lined with a metal foil. 
   
   
       10 . The radiator unit as in  claim 5  wherein said plurality of inflatable tubes is lined with a metal foil. 
   
   
       11 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said low mass gas is a gas chosen from the following group of gasses: hydrogen, helium, nitrogen and neon. 
   
   
       12 . The radiator unit as in  claim 1  wherein said inflatable radiating panel is adapted for compaction into a small volume for transport into outer space and for inflation with said low mass gas transported into space in a high pressure gas bottle. 
   
   
       13 . The radiator unit as in  claim 3  wherein said electric generator system comprises:
 A) a collector panel comprised of a plurality of collector tubes, each tube having walls comprised of thin flexible high-strength high temperature material with an outer surface having high absorptivity of solar radiation and low emissivity of thermal radiation,   B) a first working fluid defining a liquid phase and a vapor phase,   C) a turbine generator system adapted to electrical power from the vapor phase of the working fluid,   
   
   
       14 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the first working fluid is water. 
   
   
       15 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the walls of the collector tubes are comprised of a composite material comprised of a polymer fiber. 
   
   
       16 . The system as in  claim 13  wherein the entire system is adapted to fit in a cargo space of a space vehicle. 
   
   
       17 . The system as in  claim 16  wherein the space vehicle is an Atlas 5 HLV rocket.