Speaker
Description
The increasing demand in image quality provided by forthcoming observation missions requires both the need to use very low-CTE materials for focal planes, such as Silicon Carbide (SiC), and the need to accommodate electronics as close as possible to the detector. Such a highly integrated focal plane thus implies an efficient Thermal Control to drain the dissipated power and ensure a high temperature stability at detector level. One solution could be to design a focal plane with embedded grooved heat pipes which would drain power and homogenize temperature. A first step is then to demonstrate that such embedded heat pipes can be manufactured inside a SiC focal plane and work properly.
In the frame of a CNES Research & Technology activity, co-funded by CNES, a SiC-based heat pipe has been manufactured and assembled by Mersen Boostec, and characterization tests have been performed in CNES premises after filling it with ammonia. Besides, a simple thermal model was developed and compared to experimental results.
This presentation gives an overview of the manufacturing process and the main results obtained during the experimental campaign.
