ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10677
Open Date: 23/09/2021 09:57 CEST
Closing Date: 09/12/2021 13:00 CEST

The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test an ammonia two-phase system enhanced by electrohydrodynamic technology. Targeted Improvements: Increase the thermal transport capability of existing two-phase systems by 30%. Description: Currently, telecommunication satellites are moving to much high power densities that require new thermal management designs. This increasing demand to put a more performant payload on the spacecraft consequently asks for higher performance of radiators and lower electrical power dedicated to heaters. Thermal designs answer this need by aiming at higher performing radiators, increased radiator temperature, smaller physical footprint and higher fluid flow rates. Mechanical pumps can meet this challenge and are therefore a critical enabling technology. However, most pump technologies currently suffer from reliability (i.e. lifetime) and vibration issues and also commercial limitations. An Electro Hydro Dynamic (EHD) pump, by its nature, is free of both vibration and moving mechanical components. This naturally improves reliability as well as compliance to low vibration requirements. The basic working principle of an EHD pump has already been proven for terrestrial and space use, but the technology requires higher performance to increase its attractiveness. This activity will investigate the use of EHD devices within a two-phase equipment in order to improve the overall performance. Areas within the equipment that could benefit from the use of EHD devices are at the condenser, to flush out liquid from the condensing surface, or on the liquid line in order to increase the pumping capability. Breadboards shall be designed and tested to validate compliance to critical requirements, including the pump electronics. An engineering model shall then be manufactured and tested in representative environment (vacuum), including the electronics to validate the high voltage design.

Directorate: Directorate Telecom Integrated Applica
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Nicole Rinaudo
Initiating Service: TIA-TT
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0534-01G – CC-AT 4.0.1
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CA+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 21-A-II-Capillary-Driven Loops
Products Keywords: 2-O-3-g-High temperature CPL/LHP (Capillary Pumped Loop/Loop Heat Pipe)