Spacecraft thermal regulation is essential for maintaining the functionality and longevity of onboard systems by preventing overheating or freezing. To achieve optimal performance, thermal management systems require the integration of temperature sensors and heating elements at key locations. AHEAD is a project which focuses on the development of 3D-printed pipe segments with integrated heating and sensing functions, designed for in situ measurements and energy harvesting in demanding environments such as space and industrial refrigeration systems.
Recently, the project’s research team showcased its outcomes at the European Conference on Spacecraft Structures, Materials, and Environmental Testing (ECSSMET) 2024 held 23 to 27 September at ESA ESTEC in The Netherlands. Hervé Saudan, coordinator of the AHEAD project, discussed the results and lessons learned from the design, manufacturing and testing of the prototypes.
“Sharing the results of our project has allowed us to identify an application that had not yet been considered. This demonstrates the importance of meeting with users to deepen our understanding of the technological needs specific to various sectors of activity”, explained Hervé Saudan, Coordinator of the AHEAD project and Senior Project Manager at CSEM.
The presentation, made on the third day at the “Additive manufacturing product development” section, focused on the technology’s design and validation process, including key testing protocols such as CT scanning, thermal lifetime testing, and leak testing. The research team also discussed the broader implications of their work, suggesting that these technology bricks could be adapted for various industrial applications, further extending the impact of the project.
This project is coordinated by the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) in partnership with five organizations: CERN, inanoEnergy, LISI Aerospace Additive Manufacturing, Norwegian University of Science & Technology, and Thales Alenia Space France.
Here you can watch a video of the AHEAD project:
For additional information about the project, visit here.
