Technologies for cooling of large distributed and deployable loads

A. Kashani; J. R. Maddocks; G. F. Nellis; Y. B. Gianchandani

doi:10.1117/12.734351

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26 September 2007 Technologies for cooling of large distributed and deployable loads

A. Kashani, J. R. Maddocks, G. F. Nellis, Y. B. Gianchandani

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Proceedings Volume 6678, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XV; 667804 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734351
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In future space applications, widely distributed sensors, as well as, large deployable structures, such as mirrors and sunshades, will require active thermal control. However, thermal integration by conductive coupling with regenerative cryocoolers is not feasible for such distributed loads, as it requires massive copper straps and provides only limited means of thermal control. To address these issues, we are developing a continuous-flow rectified cooling loop (RCL) for use with pulse tube refrigerators. The RCL consists of a rectifier, integrated into the cold heat exchanger of the pulse tube refrigerator, and a flow loop with a MEMS-based, micro-scale, control valve. The RCL allows simple mechanical integration and has the benefit of load temperature regulation using the actively controlled valve to regulate the gas flow. The MEMS valve may also serve as the basis for a system of distributed Joule-Thomson (JT) coolers. In this paper, we summarize the work that has been done to date by Atlas Scientific, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin Cryogenic Engineering Group (UWCEG) and the University of Michigan Solid State Electronics Lab (UMSSEL), in developing the RCL and the MEMS-based micro-scale control valve.

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A. Kashani, J. R. Maddocks, G. F. Nellis, and Y. B. Gianchandani "Technologies for cooling of large distributed and deployable loads", Proc. SPIE 6678, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XV, 667804 (26 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734351

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