Descripción del proyecto
Una nueva forma de envolver los satélites pequeños
Los satélites en miniatura deben envolverse para garantizar que la electrónica a bordo no se dañe con temperaturas orbitales extremas. Para ello, se utilizan las mantas de aislamiento multicapa. Uno de los mayores desafíos es la falta de materiales infrarrojos activos eficientes. El proyecto SmartGraphene demostró que las superficies de infrarrojos (IR) activas a base de grafeno pueden dar lugar a nuevas tecnologías de control de la radiación térmica y la gestión del calor para su uso en el espacio exterior. Ahora, el proyecto financiado con fondos europeos SmartIR (basándose en su investigación anterior) utilizará el grafeno multicapa para desarrollar un prototipo de manta térmica adaptable. La solución propuesta consta de capas de grafeno activo flexibles y reconfigurables con electricidad, combinadas con sensores de radiación y componentes electrónicos de control que pueden envolver cuerpos voluminosos para su control térmico.
Objetivo
As satellites get more miniaturized, they place unique thermal control challenges. Because of their low masses, they experience large temperature variations in the very tough and rapidly varying outer space environment. However, due to the lack of efficient active infrared materials, dynamic control of thermal radiation from satellites has been a challenge. As a result of the research undertaken in the SmartGraphene (ERC-CoG-2016-682723), we have successfully demonstrated graphene-based active infrared (IR) surfaces which can electrically control its thermal emissivity over the entire IR spectra. These active IR surfaces can provide new enabling technologies for active control of thermal radiation and heat management for outer space applications. This project (SmartIR) aims to develop a prototype for adaptive thermal blankets using multilayer graphene. The proposed thermal blankets will consist of electrically reconfigurable and flexible active graphene layers integrated with radiation sensors and control electronics that can be conformally wrapped onto solid objects to dynamically modulate their thermal emission and absorption. This project will focus on demonstrating prototype thermal sheets,
performance characterization in a space simulator and conducting a market feasibility study of the developed technology. The expected outcome of the project is to bring the technology to a development stage TRL 5-6 that could enable novel active thermal management
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotInstitución de acogida
M13 9PL Manchester
Reino Unido