Active Thermal Control System

In a satellite, the thermal control system (TCS) maintains optimal temperature range for different
components. This involves proper use and disposal of internal heat produced by different
components. Also, the satellite should cope up with extreme gradient temperature cycles. If this
thermal control is done by using moving fluids or mechanism, or power then it is called Active
Thermal Control System(ATCS).
This is achieved through conductive and radiative heat path. It involves mechanically pumped
fluid or heating elements to perform heat transfer. ATCS can handle large heat loads and also
provides a degree of control over how to manage these loads.
Generally we don’t develop ATCS in case of nano-satellite as it imposes high power requirement
and increase mass and mechanical complexities.

Contents
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 1Environmental Conditions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

 2Typical operating range of important components
 3Components of Active Thermal Control System
o 3.1Heat Pipes
 3.1.1Need for Heat Pipes
 3.1.2Major components of Heat Pipes
 3.1.3Working of Heat Pipes
o 3.2Louvers
 3.2.1Working and Components
o 3.3Heaters
 3.3.1Structure and Working
 4References

Environmental Conditions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Generally all nano-satellite are placed in Low Earth Orbit. Earth’s Albedo and infrared emission
imposes need of thermal control. Long eclipse duration is the characteristic of LEO. small
instruments and solar panels have small thermal inertia, so they can easily affected by the
thermal cycles.

Typical operating range of important components

 Batteries have a very narrow operating range, between −5-20˚C
 Cameras: −30 to 40˚C
 Solar arrays have a wide operating range of −150 to 100˚C
 Infrared spectrometers, which have a range of −40 to 60˚C

Components of Active Thermal Control System

Heat Pipes
These devices work on capillary circulation using two phase liquid and exhibit very high and
effective thermal conductivity. It consists of a tubing which is sealed off from both ends, contains
small amount of fluid and annular wick material for proper fluid movement.
Need for Heat Pipes

 In space we need to transport heat from one place to another effectively. As

conduction is very limited in space so we need convection, which is much faster than
 conduction in heat transfering. So we need to develop fast and effective heat
transport mechanism. This purpose is fulfilled by heat pipes.
 Main advantage is that it can transport heat to large distances very effectively
Major components of Heat Pipes
Three major components in such a device :

 Working fluid
 Container
 Wick structure
Working of Heat Pipes
Working fluid in the wick absorbs heat and and evaporates. The vapourised fluid mixes with the
vapour phase which is moving in the center of the pipe. Due to tendency of moving towards
lower temperature, vapour reaches the radiating surface to transfer the heat to the heat sink. By
low heat energy the vapour condenses. Annular Wick structure helps in movement of condensed
vapour to the heat extracting point and again this cycle takes place. Driving mechanism is the
temperature difference between source and the radiator.

Heat pipe mechanism. Image reproduced from here

Louvers
Louvers are those active thermal-control elements who can change the area of radiating surface
depending upon the amount of radiating heat. In general, a louver can reject six times ore heat in
open state compared to complete closed state, where it doesn’t require power. Commonly
bimetallic or spring actuated louvers are used.
Working and Components

 Louver radiator consist of five main elements: baseplate, blades, actuators, sensing
elements, and structural elements.
  They do radiative coupling between baseplates and ambient in open position
 The actuators actuate the blades according to the desired and current temperatures.

Louver mechanism. Image inspired from here

Heaters
Used to protect the components when the temperature is low and we need high temperature. We
need to use heater as the dissipative box. These are used with thermostats or solid-state
controllers to maintain accurate required temperature.
Structure and Working

 Most commonly used heater is patch heater, it contains series of resistors between
electrically insulated sheets like kapton.
 These resistors generates heat when current is passed through them.

Heater

If you are done reading this page, you can go back to Mechanical Subsystem

References
This page was inspired from:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft_thermal_control
 Spacecraft thermal handbook
For additional reading, you can refer to:

 http://www.ltas-vis.ulg.ac.be/cmsms/uploads/File/
2013_11_04_Satellite_Engineering_THER_LJ(2).pdf
 http://www.lth.se/fileadmin/ht/Kurser/MVK160/Project_08/Fabian_Korn.pdf
 http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/662241.pdf