Overview of NASA's Thermal Control System                                                         Development for Exploration Project

Stephan, Ryan A.

doi:10.2514/6.2010-6135

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…3 Future Lunar and Mars missions will require turndown ratios as high as 12:1, which has spurred investigation of variable heat rejection radiators. 7 Deployable radiators, which use a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator to open and close louvered panels comprised of high-conductivity graphite composite tape, have been thermal vacuum chamber tested and displayed encouraging thermallyactivated actuation for passive heat control. [8][9][10] Most recently, this concept has achieved a turndown ratio of 16:1 and been selected for integration on the DESTINY + in-space technology demonstrator for operational environment validation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design, experimental demonstration, and validation of a composite morphing space radiator

Walgren

Nevin

Hartl

2022

Journal of Composite Materials

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Future manned space missions will require thermal control systems that can adapt to larger fluctuations in temperature and heat flux exceeding the capabilities of current state-of-the-art technologies. Specifically, these missions will demand novel space radiators that can vary the system heat rejection rate to maintain the crew cabin at habitable temperatures throughout the entire mission. While current systems can provide a turndown ratio (defined as the ratio of maximum to minimum heat rejection rates) of 3:1 under adverse conditions, future missions are projected to demand thermal control systems that can provide a turndown ratio of more than 6:1. A novel morphing radiator concept autonomously varies the system heat rejection rate by altering the shape of the panel exposed to space, where composite materials can provide an ideal compromise between thermal conductivity, restorative stiffness and deformation capability. Shape change is accomplished through the use of shape memory alloys, a class of active materials that exhibit thermomechanically driven phase transformations and can be used as simultaneous sensors and actuators in thermal control applications. This work details progress towards testing and modeling a spaceflight-quality, high turndown ratio morphing radiator prototype in a relevant thermal environment. A prototype composite morphing radiator with shape memory alloy strip actuators and high performance thermal coatings achieved a turndown ratio of 7.2:1, while an associated multi-physical model thereof has been shown to capture all major effects and will enable future design improvements.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design, experimental demonstration, and validation of a composite morphing space radiator

Walgren

Nevin

Hartl

2022

Journal of Composite Materials

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“…A novel hardware component called the Sublimator Driven Coldplate (SDC) has been developed under NASA’s Constellation Program. It targets equipment which has a low heat load, short transport distance, and short mission duration requirements, and which has the potential to replace an entire thermal control system with one hardware component [ 20 ]. Kim et al have suggested a new spacecraft thermal control hardware system composed of two parallel channels working for a heat pipe (HP) and a solid–liquid phase change material (PCM) for a high heat dissipating component which works intermittently with short duty [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic Analysis and Intelligent Control Strategy for the Internal Thermal Control Fluid Loop of Scientific Experimental Racks in Space Stations

Cai

Wei

et al. 2020

Entropy

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Scientific experimental racks are an indispensable supporter in space stations for experiments with regard to meeting different temperature and humidity requirements. The diversity of experiments brings enormous challenges to the thermal control system of racks. This paper presents an indirect coupling thermal control single-phase fluid loop system for scientific experimental racks, along with fuzzy incremental control strategies. A dynamic model of the thermal control system is built, and three control strategies for it, with different inputs and outputs, are simulated. A comparison of the calculated results showed that pump speed and outlet temperature of the cold plate branch are, respectively, the best choice for the control variable and controlled variable in the controller. It showed that an indirect coupling thermal control fluid loop system with a fuzzy incremental controller is feasible for the thermal control of scientific experimental racks in space stations.

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“…The turndown ratio, defined as the ratio between the maximum and minimum heat rejection capabilities of the TCS, is a primary measurement of TCS performance . 2 More precisely, this ratio involves the maximum heat rejection rate in the hottest environment and the miminimum heat rejection rate in the coldest environment. The turndown ratio of a TCS is therefore measured relative to the particular thermal environments in which it is designed to operate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several efforts have been undertaken to improve TCS performance through the development of variable heat rejection radiators. 5 Examples include roll-out fin radiators , 6 freezable radiators , 2 digital radiators , 7 and variableemissivity radiators . [8][9][10][11] This work supports the development of a novel type of radiator, known as a variable-geometry or morphing radiator , 12 and provides details regarding the thermal characterization of various prototypes that were built.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Characterization of a Composite Morphing Radiator Prototype in a Relevant Thermal Environment

Bertagne

Chong

Whitcomb

et al. 2017

25th AIAA/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference

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For future long duration space missions, crewed vehicles will require advanced thermal control systems to maintain a desired internal environment temperature in spite of a large range of internal and external heat loads. Current radiators are only able to achieve turndown ratios (i.e. the ratio between the radiator's maximum and minimum heat rejection rates) of approximately 3:1. Upcoming missions will require radiators capable of 12:1 turndown ratios. A radiator with the ability to alter shape could significantly increase turndown capacity. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) offer promising qualities for this endeavor, namely their temperature-dependent phase change and capacity for work. In 2015, the first ever morphing radiator prototype was constructed in which SMA actuators passively altered the radiator shape in response to a thermal load. This work describes a follow-on endeavor to demonstrate a similar concept using highly thermally conductive composite materials. Numerous versions of this new concept were tested in a thermal vacuum environment and successfully demonstrated morphing behavior and variable heat rejection, achieving a turndown ratio of 4.84:1. A summary of these thermal experiments and their results are provided herein.

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Overview of NASA's Thermal Control System Development for Exploration Project

Cited by 7 publications

References 10 publications

Design, experimental demonstration, and validation of a composite morphing space radiator

Design, experimental demonstration, and validation of a composite morphing space radiator

Dynamic Analysis and Intelligent Control Strategy for the Internal Thermal Control Fluid Loop of Scientific Experimental Racks in Space Stations

Experimental Characterization of a Composite Morphing Radiator Prototype in a Relevant Thermal Environment

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