OUR UNIQUE TECHNOLOGIES DELIVER UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE FOR
APPLICATIONS IN AEROSPACE, ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
APR provides products based on innovative technology that enable new and smart thermal design of spacecraft. The advantages offered are fully in line with today’s trends towards higher power density at spacecraft, payload and equipment level, such as:
- Hot spots in active antennas and digital processors
- The need of high precision temperature control in instruments
- The need of improved thermal control of planetary rovers
THE SPACE PRODUCT OFFERINGS
Thermal switches: for imminent control of the thermal conductance between two surfaces, which can be used for surfaces facing large shifts of sun exposure during the mission.
Pumped loops: various sizes, from systems that move several hundred Watts from heat generator to radiators, to regulators that control temperature with a stability less than 0,1 K.
Heat exchangers: for hot spots such as SSPAs in active antennas, providing factors of improved performance of the overall cooling loop.
APR products enable improved thermal performance of S/C, improved control, and reduced system level cost. Some of them open for game-changing thermal designs.
Thermal Switches – Novel devices for active control of thermal conductance
The EHD pumped thermal switches and regulators allow precise modulation of thermal conductance between two thermal interfaces and the possibility to minimize the conductance by switching OFF the device at any given time.. By using EHD technology, this can be done without moving parts, enabling a very fast response time in all operating conditions, without vibrations or mechanical wear.
EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS
- Precise thermal control of sensors or other thermally sensitive equipment.
- Control the conductance to the radiators during the orbit or surface vehicle route, optimizing the on-board thermal conditions.
- Thermal isolation of equipment on surface vehicles during cold conditions, reducing the need for heaters.
UNIQUE ADVANTAGES
- ON/OFF control from bus voltage (100V or 28V).
- Quick start/stop time at any operating temperature.
- Duty cycle operation allows precise regulation of thermal conductance.
- No moving parts – no mechanical wear or vibrations. Power consumption in OFF mode is 0 W.
EHD pumped cooling loops – Maximize the performance of your satellite
Active cooling with pumped loops allows for the transport and spreading of heat over distances. Pumped loops also allow for precise, active control of temperatures despite changes in the environment. Using APR Technologies’ EHD pumps with no moving parts enables a long pump lifetime and creates virtually no vibrations, as opposed to systems using mechanical pumps where limited lifetime and induced vibrations are known issues.
UNIQUE ADVANTAGES
- Allows for transporting heat across long distances on spacecraft.
- Can pick up heat from several components in series or in parallel Precise control of temperatures possible, despite changes in the environment.
- No moving parts – no mechanical wear or vibrations.
- Immediate on/off capability.
- Heat exchanger size and tube routing can be customized for each applicationPrecise thermal control of sensors or other thermally sensitive equipment.
EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS
- Precise thermal control of sensitive equipment located anywhere in the satellite.
- Cooling of high-power equipment located far from the radiator.
- An overall thermal system for a smaller satellite, picking up heat from several heat loads and rejecting the heat at the radiator.
Latest news
APR Technologies and ESA collaborate on space thermal switch advancements
APR Technologies AB has recently signed a new agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to advance development of a thermal switch component for space applications. The project began in late 2023 and is scheduled to run for 14 months. The initiative aims to...
APR Technologies and ESA collaborate on space thermal switch advancements
APR Technologies AB has recently signed a new agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to advance development of a thermal switch component for space applications. The project began in late 2023 and is scheduled to run for 14 months. The initiative aims to...
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APR provides products based on innovative technology that enable new and smart thermal design of spacecraft.
