Transient performance investigation of a self-driven adaptive thermostatic valve for single-phase space thermal control Loop

A novel thermal control system which adopt a self-driven adaptive thermostatic valve for single-phase space thermal control Loop (SSTCL-SATV) has been proposed to improve the thermal control adaptability and energy-saving requirement of spacecraft. This self-driven adaptive thermostatic valve can realize the automatic proportional control of flow and temperature by applying the linear expansion or contraction characteristic of sensitive wax. The mathematic model of SSTCL-SATV such as SATV, radiator, and heat source are established for predicting temperature dynamic performance of the thermal control system by lumped parameter method. The transient response of temperature under different sensitive wax parameters such as layout, phase-change range, time constant and temperature delay are presented by numerical simulation to analyze the control effect of SATV by comparing the control overshoot, settling time and finial offset values. These results will supply a design reference of SSTCL-SATV to adapt the complicated space environment.