Adaptive Thermal Conductivity Metamaterials: Enabling Active and Passive Thermal Control

Abstract

The novel adaptive thermal metamaterial developed in this paper provides a unique thermal management capability that can address the needs of future spacecraft. While advances in metamaterials have provided the ability to generate materials with a broad range of material properties, relatively little advancement has been made in the development of adaptive metamaterials. This metamaterial concept enables the development of materials with a highly nonlinear thermal conductivity as a function of temperature. Through enabling active or passive control of the metamaterials bulk effective thermal conductivity, this metamaterial that can improve the spacecraft's thermal management systems performance. This variable thermal conductivity is achieved through induced contact that results in changes in the F path length and the conductive path area. The contact can be generated internally using thermal strain from shape memory alloys, bimetal springs, and mismatches in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) or it can be generated externally using applied mechanical loading. The metamaterial can actively control the temperature of an interface by dynamically changing the bulk thermal conductivity controlling the instantaneous heat flux through the metamaterial. The design of thermal stability regions (regions of constant thermal conductivity versus temperature) into the nonlinear thermal conductivity as a function of temperature can provide passive thermal control. While this concept can be used in a wide range of applications, this paper focuses on the development of a metamaterial that achieves highly nonlinear thermal conductivity as a function of temperature to enable passive thermal control of spacecraft systems on orbit.

Machine Learning Aided Design and Optimization of Thermal Metamaterials

“…Shape-memory alloys, renowned for their near-room-temperature phase transition point and customizable deformation patterns, find widespread use in crafting thermal switches and diodes. These advancements hold the potential to open new avenues for temperature control and dynamic thermal management in electronic packaging …”

“…These advancements hold the potential to open new avenues for temperature control and dynamic thermal management in electronic packaging. 441 It is envisaged that the design of a self-adaptive thermal metamaterial for manipulating the thermal field holds great promise for future studies. In a recent development, Jin et al 442 trained an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to autonomously control the rotating angular velocity of a bilayer structure.…”

Advances in Perovskites for Photovoltaic Applications in Space

“… 49 , 56 Many strategies can be exploited to reduce such effects, both passive and active, such as the use of resistant materials and heat exchangers, as well as temperature compensation systems. 56 , 67 However, thermal stability must be properly addressed especially with respect to phase transitions that can deeply modify the physicochemical properties of materials, making them unusable.…”

“…In particular, fluctuations of the temperature (which can be due to alternation between day and night hours, infrared radiation from Earth, albedo radiation, etc .) can cause thermal expansion and contraction, vibration, and eventually the rupture of some materials. , Many strategies can be exploited to reduce such effects, both passive and active, such as the use of resistant materials and heat exchangers, as well as temperature compensation systems. , However, thermal stability must be properly addressed especially with respect to phase transitions that can deeply modify the physicochemical properties of materials, making them unusable.…”

A Review of the Space Environment Effects on Spacecraft in Different Orbits

“…Passive measures must be taken including reasonable arrangement, adoption of appropriate materials and hardware, and rational organization of heat exchange [91]. Active measures should be applied as well, including adaptive adjustment of heat exchange parameters and temperature compensation [92], [93]. However, since solar ultraviolet radiation can damage materials, thermal control facilities demand the anti-ultraviolet radiation ability [94].…”