All 2015 Content
Session
Technical Session IV: Advanced Technologies I
Abstract
The problem of active cooling for photo detectors in “nano-satellites” becomes more important because the majority of space missions target Earth observation, and passive cooling does not provide the required temperatures to achieve the desired Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) levels. Reciprocating compressors used in cryocoolers cause vibrations. VERT Rotors has developed a miniature Conical Rotary Compressor (CRC) with a 1:12 pressure ratio to enable an active heat management system for small satellites (Rotary Cooling System, or ROCS). The main differentiation of CRC is that it runs with virtually no vibration which is beneficial for operation with image sensors in a small hull. With a high compression ratio ROCS is designed to remove 20W of heat, cool to 120-150K, and run at COP >1 (using less energy for operation than it removes). A prototype of the compressor has been tested, and the ROCS system is undergoing laboratory tests.
An Ultra-low Vibration Cryocooling Kit Based on a Miniature Rotary Compressor
The problem of active cooling for photo detectors in “nano-satellites” becomes more important because the majority of space missions target Earth observation, and passive cooling does not provide the required temperatures to achieve the desired Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) levels. Reciprocating compressors used in cryocoolers cause vibrations. VERT Rotors has developed a miniature Conical Rotary Compressor (CRC) with a 1:12 pressure ratio to enable an active heat management system for small satellites (Rotary Cooling System, or ROCS). The main differentiation of CRC is that it runs with virtually no vibration which is beneficial for operation with image sensors in a small hull. With a high compression ratio ROCS is designed to remove 20W of heat, cool to 120-150K, and run at COP >1 (using less energy for operation than it removes). A prototype of the compressor has been tested, and the ROCS system is undergoing laboratory tests.
