Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2023

Journal Article Version

Accepted Manuscript

First Page

1

Last Page

6

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Abstract

Thermal switches are an enabling thermal technology in cryogenic space applications, particularly in systems with redundant cryocooler configurations. However, information on low- mass, passive, and highly reliable cryogenic thermal switches, like the one presented here, remains relatively scarce in published literature. This paper details the development, testing, and benchmarked performance of a passive cryogenic thermal switch using the combination of high positive and negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) metals. This design features a simple and demonstrated tunability of the open/close temperature, an innovation among passive thermal switch designs, making it easily adaptable to various application temperatures without redesign.

This passive cryogenic thermal switch is particularly promising in redundant cryocooler system configurations, offering tunability with a zero-power consumption as an easily adaptable solution. A comparison with existing cryogenic thermal switches highlights its unique advantages, making a compelling case for adoption.

One of the primary challenges associated with cryogenic thermal switches is the imperative to minimize thermal parasitic heat loads across an open switch, given the temperature disparity between one end at cryogenic temperatures and the other at non-cryogenic temperatures. This paper provides details on how the design addresses this challenge, accompanied by a discussion of other encountered hurdles. Key challenges include the tunability of the close temperature, maintaining low open conductance while achieving high closed conductance, and minimizing mass while preserving sensitivity to temperature changes

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