Experimental study of a smart radiator device (SRD) for enhanced passive thermal control of small satellites

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Small spacecraft are becoming popular for companies and researchers for a wide range of orbital applications, due to their reduced cost, small form-factor and low launch costs. Applications of small spacecraft in low earth orbit include earth observation, space science and even internet data back-haul. Space systems miniaturization is a challenge for most subsystems, including the thermal control and power subsystems. With limited area available for solar cells, power subsystem designers need to scrutinize every watt of consumption. To maximize the power subsystem efficiency, thermal engineers try to avoid the need for heaters, since heater power could better be used to power payloads and other spacecraft systems. However, since thermal control engineers must size heat dissipation mechanisms (radiators) for the worst-case hot scenarios, most spacecraft require supplemental heaters for all other (colder) thermal scenarios, since traditional radiators have a fixed emissivity and area. To remedy this, MPBC has developed a new type of spacecraft radiator known as the Smart Radiator Device (SRD) that changes its emissivity with temperature. The SRD radiates less heat at cold temperatures than at hot temperatures. If sized and tuned properly, the SRD could minimize or eliminate the need for many spacecraft heaters because the radiator would effectively turn itself off when the spacecraft cools down. Magellan Aerospace is interested in the SRD technology as an innovative means of spacecraft thermal control, but does not have any experience in modelling or integrating SRDs into spacecraft. The purpose of this research project is to evaluate the feasibility of an SRD panel for small satellites. We will thermally model an SRD panel and verify the model in a thermal-vacuum chamber test. We will also quantify the power savings and thermal control improvements the SRDs provide. This research will enable future satellite designers to incorporate SRDs into their designs, using the models and thermal control strategies developed in this project. By doing so, the space industry will have access to a wider range of equipment and payloads, thanks to the more precise thermal control and the reduced need for supplemental heater power.