Development of a two-phase mechanically pumped loop (2ΦMPL) for the thermal dissipation management of an active antenna : experimental on-ground results

摘要

Since 2010, THALES ALENIA SPACE (TAS), through an ESA ARTES 5 (Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems) activity in cooperation with CNES, is developing a thermal control system to transport the heat dissipation from an active antenna (up to 4kW) to dedicated large deployable radiators. The system consists in a two-phase mechanically pumped loop (2ΦMPL) developed in previous TAS projects that has been adapted to this specific application. This paper briefly explains the design characteristics of the 2ΦMPL ground prototype and the Active Antenna (AA) mock up that have been assembled and tested in TAS premises in summer 2012. Control law philosophy, as well as obtained thermal performances during transient test, are presented and discussed in this document. Results show that this 2ΦMPL thermal control system can efficiently transport active antenna dissipation towards the radiators and it can also guarantee quasi-isothermal condition at TWT's level during all the transient phases performed in the test campaign with a simple control law.