Study on the effect of shape-stabilized phase change materials on spacecraft thermal control in extreme thermal environment

In space, the emergencies such as short-term high heat flux is prone to cause spacecraft thermal control system faults, resulting in temperature anomalies of electronic equipment of the spacecraft and even failures in them. In order to protect the spacecraft attacked by the high energy, a new guard method is proposed. A shape-stabilized phase change material (PCM), which has high thermal conductivity and does not require being tightly packaged, is proposed to be used on the spacecraft. To prove the feasibility of using the material on spacecraft attacked by high energy, the thermal responses for spacecraft with shape-stabilized PCM are investigated in situations of normal and short-term high heat flux, in contrast to that with conventional thermal control system. The results indicate that the shape-stabilized PCM can effectively absorb the heat to prevent the thermal control system faults when the spacecraft’s outer heat flux changes dramatically and has no negative effect on spacecraft in normal heat flux. Additionally the effect of thermal conductivity of PCM on its application effectiveness is discussed.

► A shape-stabilized PCM is used to protect the spacecraft attacked by high energy.
► Taking a satellite as example, it proves the solution given in the work is feasible.
► Low thermal conductivity makes the material above its thermal stability limit.
► It provides guidance on how to choose the shape-stabilized PCM for similar problems.