Design & Analysis
For more than 50 years, CSL has developed a high level expertise in the design and analysis of Space Environmental test set-up. From the thermal tent to the vibration mechanical interface, the design is proposed to fully comply with Customer’s need and to perfectly reproduce the required Space Environment.
Thermal tent design & Analysis
A dedicated thermal tent composed of copper panels mounted on a structure and fed by regulated nitrogen is generally designed for each specimen to be tested.
- The thermal tent design can be consolidated with a thermal analysis taking into account of the heat load flux coming from the specimen and the chamber environment or even with a dedicated sensitivity analysis for critical parameters.The example hereafter shows the temperature distribution analysis in a thermal copper panel after optimization of the pipe’s routing for reducing the temperature gradient on the overall emitting black surface.
- Depending on the temperature ranges, a specific instrumentation is foreseen to monitor the thermal tent panel. Associated wiring and feedthroughs are also defined and managed by the CSL
- The thermal tent design can also be consolidated with mechanical analysis and margins verifications. As shown hereafter, the safety factor for an upper supporting structure is verified.
Support design & Analysis
A dedicated support is generally necessary to install the specimen into a thermal vacuum chamber. This support must be designed to avoid coupling with specimen resonance frequencies. It has also to be easily cleanable, vacuum compatible and adjustable to allow optical alignment.
CSL is taking the lead for designing, manufacturing and validating these kinds of mechanical structure.
- The support design can be consolidated with FEM mechanical analysis
- The low vibration levels are checked with 3-axis seismic accelerometers measurement on site (inside the vacuum chamber and on the optical bench)
Vacuum chamber adaptation
Each project is specific and a case by case analysis is initiated.
According to requirements, some adaptations are frequently needed at the vacuum chamber level.
From pumping level adaptation to flange modifications for OGSE system, CSL offers a good flexibility and is creative to answer to the need.
Specific Designs
Dedicated hardware can also be developed to answer to a specific project need.
The example presented hereafter shows hardware developed to minimize the test cycling duration with an extremely large temperature range (43-433K).
A dedicated test facility, based on temperature control and low Helium pressure environment was developed to answer to the need.
