15 K liquid hydrogen thermal Energy Storage Unit for future ESA science missions

[摘要] A thermal Energy Storage Unit (ESU) using liquid hydrogen has been developed as a solution for absorbing the heat peaks released by the recycling phase of a 300 mK cooler that is a part of the cryogenic chain of one of ESA's new satellites for science missions. This device is capable of storing 400 J of thermal energy between 15 and 16 K by taking advantage of the liquid-to-vapor latent heat of hydrogen in a closed system. This paper describes some results obtained with the development model of the ESU under different configurations and using two types of hydrogen storage: a large expansion volume for ground testing and a much more compact unit, suitable for space applications and that can comply with ESA's mass budget.

[发布机构] LIBPhys, Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica; 2829-516, Portugal^1;Active Space Technologies, Parque Industrial de Taveiro, Lote 12, Coimbra; 3045-508, Portugal^2;European Space Agency, ESTEC, E0053A, AG Noordwijk; 2200, Netherlands^3;CNRS, Institut Néel et CRETA, Grenoble; F-38000, France^4

[效力级别] 物理学 [学科分类] 材料科学（综合）

[关键词] Closed systems;Compact unit;Development model;Expansion volumes;Ground testing;Liquid hydrogens;New satellites;Science missions