Study on a reversible thermal panel for spacecraft (evaluation of efficiency and reliability of new autonomous thermal control device)

The current spacecraft trend toward high density packing of the payload electronics and increased waste heat flux will require the development of lightweight high thermal conductive materials and innovative thermal control techniques. Additionally, new challenging missions will require the new techniques to adapt a variety of environmental conditions. In this study, a new passive thermal control device - a Reversible Thermal Panel (RTP) based on high thermal conductive graphite sheets and shape memory alloy was proposed. The RTP changes its function reversibly from radiator to solar absorber by deploying/stowing the reversible fin. The thermal analyses were conducted to predict the fundamental thermal performances of the RTP. A prototype model of the RTP based on the graphite sheets and aluminum alloys was fabricated, and the thermal vacuum test was conducted with the reversible fin deployed and stowed. The variability of thermal performances of the RTP by deploying/stowing the reversible fin was demonstrated. Comparison of the predicted results with test results indicated a good agreement.