Thermal Vacuum Chamber

Space is a thermally challenging environment as no conductive or convective heat transfer to the the surrounding environment is possible. This leaves only radiative heat transfer, the weakest of the three heat transfer types, to cope with the varying temperatures in space and ensuring that your instrument or satellite survive. It is possible to simulate this environment and the effects of you instrument or satellite and apply the obtained results on Earth in a thermal vacuum chamber. During this thermal vacuum test the survival of your instrument or satellite is proven, as required by all major space agencies.

For smaller items and a quicker turn around time you can also consider using our micro thermal vacuum system, for even bigger items our solar simulator can be considered.

Technical specifications

Dimensions Chamber (inside): $680 mm$ diameter, $426 mm$ height
Pressure: <$10^{-7} mbar$
Temperature: $-55°C$ to $+125°C$ nominal, Oil temperature control system for table and shrouds.
Logging: PT100, $8$ channels with all of the available for the device under test,; Pressure and temperature logging through control system
Vacuum Flanges: $1$ DN 10/16 ISO-KF; $3$ DN 40 ISO-KF; $2$ DN 100 ISO-K; $1$ DN 160 ISO-K; $1$ flanges for manual vent valve (DN 25 ISO-KF); $1$ window (DN 100 ISO-K)
Vacuum Feed Throughs: List of possible connectors available on request
Dimensions Mounting Plate: $670 mm$ diameter
Material Mounting Plate: Copper
Pattern Mounting Plate: M5 holes with $70 mm$ center to center
Shroud: Black shroud
Optional Equipment: Residual gas analyzer

Stainless steel chamber in the open position with top half supported using an arm and bottom half mounted on a sturdy table. A copper plate and wiring visible inside the chamber, with many vacuum flanges along the circumference. A researcher wearing a cleanroom coat looking into the chamber. Computers in the background to control the system. Oil control system visible on the left. — TVC-025 Thermal Vacuum Chamber in open configuration

Photos: Annelie Klint Nilsson, IRF