Overview of electric pump units for spacecraft thermal control systems

Abstract

The paper reports a brief description of spacecraft operating conditions, the main reasons of heating and thermal gradient appearance and need to reassign the thermal energy. Active thermal control systems and their advantages are considered, spacecraft for which the use of this type of thermal control systems is a priority. The electric pumping unit is pointed as a key unit of active thermal control systems. The electric pump unit is considered from the as the electromechanical system, its key elements are pointed. A description of the preferred pump types is reported and the types of active thermal control systems are briefly discussed. The foreign and domestic operating experience of spacecraft electric pumping units, the features of their designs are considered, the most common types of key elements are determined. Based on the results of the review, it is concluded that the most relevant layout of the electric pump unit is a centrifugal electrical pump with a brushless DC motor and hydrodynamic bearings. It is also indicated that the electric pump unit is a product with a long lifetime, which complicates the task of monitoring the technical condition in order to prevent failure.