Speaker
Description
The current research will explore the feasibility of employing a heat pump loop based on
active magnetic regeneration (AMR) of magnetocaloric materials for enhancing standard
heater/radiator-based thermal regulation on small (3U–6U) LEO spacecraft, which would
involve moving heat from heated regions to cold regions without rejection or independent
resistive regeneration. A rotary Halbach array type of AMR device using gadolinium is
analyzed according to a representative orbit and compared to radiators, resistive heaters,
heat pipes/variable conductance heat pipes, and PCM energy storage units. The estimated
active-mode electrical power (0.9–3.3 W) compares favourably to reported eclipse heater
loads (3–6 W), but this is achieved at materially higher mass (280–810 g), control com
plexity, and reliability risk, and at a substantial technology-readiness gap (TRL 2–3 versus
TRL 9 for every conventional alternative). The radiator is not eliminated under any op
erating mode. Drawing on published AMR regenerator performance data [11, 12], this
assessment further highlights regenerator geometry (aspect ratio, particle size) and operat
ing frequency as primary design parameters not accounted for by the current mass/power
sizing analysis, which should be the focus of future breadboard tests. This work is clearly
meant to be an initial order of magnitude feasibility assessment, not a detailed design.