ACS Thermal Vacuum Chambers (TVC)

Standard Thermal Vacuum Chambers

* temperature extension on the shroud and thermal plate to 150°C available as option

Customized Thermal Vacuum Chambers

HVT240MC – 190130 GN2/LN2

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions (chamber only): 7200x16000x9000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 5500×10000 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful volume: 240 m3
• Temperature range: -190°C/+130°C
• Temperature variation rate
  • 1°C/min from -100°C up to +100°C
  • 1°C/min from +100°C down to -100°C
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-6 mbar

HVT35 MC – 5080

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions (chamber only): 4000x10300x4000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 3000×5000 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful volume: 35 m3
• Temperature range: -50°C/+80°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 2°C/min from -50°C up to +80°C with 2000 kg internal load
  • 2°C/min from +60°C down to -50°C with 2000 kg internal load
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-6 mbar

HVT200000 – 190100 LN2

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions: 6800x14000x8000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimension: 6200×7000 mm (ØxL)
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-7 mbar
• Temperature Range: -190°C/+100°C

HVT8000 – 80100 MC

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions (chamber only): 4800x5600x2700 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 2000×2500 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful volume: 8 m3
• Temperature range: -80°C /+100°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 1°C/min from -70°C up to +100°C
  • 1°C/min from +100°C down to -70°C
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-6 mbar

HV19000

• Tests: high vacuum
• External dimensions: 4600x5800x4000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 2400×4500 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful Volume: 19 m3
• Vacuum limit: 2×10-7 mbar in 12 hours
• Vacuum limit with 5 mg/s Xenon flow: 2×10-5 mbar
• Xenon pumping speed: 70.000 l/s at 2×10-5 mbar Xe partial pressure

ATS10000 -6060

• Tests: Temperature, RF tests
• External dimensions: 1800x2700x6000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 1820x1350x4650 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful Volume: 11 m3
• Temperature range: -60°C/+60°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 2°C/min from -60°C up to +60°C
  • 2°C/min from +60°C up to -60°C

TC67 -185210 LN2

• Tests: temperature
• External dimensions: 4100x8000x4300 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 3500x5500x3500 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful volume: 67 m3
• Temperature range: -185°C/+210°C
• Temperature variation rate: – 20°C/min from -145°C up to +170°C – 20°C/min from +170°C down to -145°C

The standard line of ACS space simulators includes a range of products with diameters ranging from less than 0.8 m to 1.5 m.

• Cryogenic-pump and turbomolecular-pump system for the generation of depression values down to 10-8 mbar.
• Pressure value stabilisation in the 10-3/10-7 mbar range.
• Programmed pressure cycles.
• Partial pressure control for 6 different types of gases.
• Temperature range: from -180° C to +180° C obtained by means of advanced-technology thermo-regulation systems for aerospace applications.

• Thermoregulation through the shroud and thermal plate
• High vacuum with turbomolecular pump
• Inspection window
• Hinged door

• Cryogenic vacuum pump for vacuum up to 10^-7 mbar
• Sliding door opening
• Thermal plate installed on the sliding door
• Decontamination plate

HVT240MC – 190130 GN2/LN2

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions (chamber only): 7200x16000x9000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 5500×10000 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful volume: 240 m3
• Temperature range: -190°C/+130°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 1°C/min from -100°C up to +100°C
  • 1°C/min from +100°C down to -100°C
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-6 mbar

Special features

• Door with tilting system for spacecraft loading
• Special trolley for Spacecraft loading on rails
• Internal monorail crane
• Spacecraft horizontality control system

HVT200000 – 190100 LN2

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions: 6800x14000x8000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimension: 6200×7000 mm (ØxL)
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-7 mbar
• Temperature Range: -190°C/+100°C

Special features

• Satellite horizontal control system

HVT35 MC – 5080

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions (chamber only): 4000x10300x4000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 3000×5000 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful volume: 35 m3
• Temperature range: -50°C/+80°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 2°C/min from -50°C up to +80°C with 2000 kg internal load
  • 2°C/min from +60°C down to -50°C with 2000 kg internal load
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-6 mbar

Special features

• Combined thermo-vacuum tests and optical measurements on satellite components

HVT8000 – 80100 MC

• Tests: high vacuum, temperature
• External dimensions (chamber only): 4800x5600x2700 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 2000×2500 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful volume: 8 m3
• Temperature range: -80°C /+100°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 1°C/min from -70°C up to +100°C
  • 1°C/min from +100°C down to -70°C
• Vacuum limit: 1×10-6 mbar

Special features

• Door with tilting system for spacecraft loading – Removable thermal plate

HV19000

• Tests: high vacuum
• External dimensions: 4600x5800x4000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 2400×4500 mm (ØxL)
• Internal useful Volume: 19 m3
• Vacuum limit: 2×10-7 mbar in 12 hours
• Vacuum limit with 5 mg/s Xenon flow: 2×10-5 mbar
• Xenon pumping speed: 70.000 l/s at 2×10-5 mbar Xe partial pressure

Special features

• tests on spacecraft electric propulsion trusters

ATS10000 -6060

• Tests: Temperature, RF tests
• External dimensions: 1800x2700x6000 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 1820x1350x4650 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful Volume: 11 m3
• Temperature range: -60°C/+60°C
• Temperature variation rate:
  • 2°C/min from -60°C up to +60°C
  • 2°C/min from +60°C up to -60°C

Special features

• combination of thermal tests and Radio Frequency measurements on antennas

TC67 -185210 LN2

• Tests: temperature
• External dimensions: 4100x8000x4300 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful dimensions: 3500x5500x3500 mm (WxDxH)
• Internal useful volume: 67 m3
• Temperature range: -185°C/+210°C
• Temperature variation rate: – 20°C/min from -145°C up to +170°C – 20°C/min from +170°C down to -145°C

The control and management system of the TVC consists of a fully automated combination of hardware and software components.

Sequencing, safety interlocks and operator interfaces are implemented through the PLC, the core of the control system. In case of failure of utilities like power, pneumatic supply, cooling water circulation etc… the PLC provides built-in inter subsystem level interlocks to ensure the safety of operating personnel, test object and facility equipment.

HMI devices are provided for local (on-board panel) and remote (PC dedicated software) control connected to the PLC.