Solar Simulation Chamber

Solar Simulation Chamber
An employee during the test setup.

The solar simulation chamber serves for thermal vacuum testing of both individual components and overall systems for space applications. The environmental conditions that will be encountered in space, such as high vacuum, the cold temperature in space and solar radiation, can all be recreated during these simulations. Where necessary, the temperature-controlled wall (shroud) can be cooled with liquid nitrogen.

The aim of the thermal vacuum test is to support the process of designing space components and thermal control systems, their qualification and the verification of numerical thermal models.

The solar simulation chamber is accredited as a testing laboratory in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and fulfils the clean room requirements of ISO-8 in accordance with Standard ISO 14644-1.

Service range

  • For thermal balance tests – thermal vacuum tests, the main area of interest is thermal balance and the respective temperature distribution
  • In thermal cycling tests – the functionality of the test object is examined using a predetermined number of cycles under certain temperatures (environmental conditions).
  • Support during developmental tests

Standard

ECSS-E-ST-10-03C of 1 June 2012

Technical specifications:

Chamber

  
Available length:
0,80 m      
Available width:
0,60m
Available height:
0,50
Volume:
0,8m³

Vacuum system                

  
End pressure at 22°C:               
<10-6mbar               

Thermal wall (shroud)

  
Max. temperature: 
380K            
Min. temperature:
80K

Solar simulator

  
Power:      
0.9 … 1.4 kW/m2            
Average solar radiation:                     
ca. 0,1 m
Spectrum:  
0,2 … 2,5 µm

Thermostat temperature control

  
Temperature control liquid nitrogen:  
80K                                       

Measuring system

  
Number of measuring channels                                              Measuring range  
80
DC                                               
20mV, 60mV, 200mV, 2V, 6V, 20V
PT100                                                      
-200°C bis 300°C
Processes                                                               
Sub-D 9, Sub-D15, Sub-D25, Sub-D37, Sub-D50, RS50, RS25, RS19