MATRAS

Description

Currently, the amount of heat that could be dissipated by a satellite to its environment is limited by the size and the temperature of the radiant surfaces of the satellite. Meanwhile, the cooling load of satellites is increasing due to a more intense use of electronic equipment’s. ULg is partner of the Matras project funded by FNRAE. The project aims at designing a vapor compression heat pump that allows for a better thermal control of the satellite by increasing the temperature of the radiant surfaces. A prototype of the heat pump is currently tested in PPrime Institute (ENSMA-Poitiers). The heat pump comprises a prototype of oil-free compressor designed by the University of Liège.

In the continuity of this project, ULg is currently funded by CNES to investigate more in details the compressor dedicated to such a heat pump system. The main technological challenges are the selection of the working fluid and the compressor lubrication in micro-gravity environment. ULg is investigating these issues based on detailed simulation models of the heat pump and the compressor.

Period

2009-2013

Funding

FNRAE, CNES

Partners

Partners: IMFT, CETHIL, LAPLACE, LET, LeTh

Publications from the project

Bell, I., V. Lemort. 2014. Optimization Of A Heat Pump For Satellite Cooling, In: Proceeding of 15 th International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference at Purdue http://hdl.handle.net/2268/164968