THOR

INNOVATIVE THERMAL MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS FOR THERMAL PROTECTION OF FUTURE SPACE VEHICLES

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'There are key space technologies existing at European level and during the last space calls many European projects are framed on space re-entry, but none of them dealing with radically new technologies, able to compete with technologies from other leading countries or allowing collaboration with them. The THOR project will provide knowledge in key space technologies for accessing space, through the design and development of disruptive technologies based on novel thermal management concepts which are specifically targeted to atmospheric entries of future space vehicles and hypersonic transport vehicles. This project, including the participation of several SMEs and relevant end-users, aims at the collaboration among them to strengthen the European space sector and enable international cooperation.

The technical approach is focused non-local concepts for thermal management including active cooling as well as passive cooling technologies, in order to extent the capabilities of re-usable Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) towards the requirement of future space flight including hypersonic transport. To achieve this technical target radically new thermal management solutions will be implemented in a new concept of TPS together with innovative materials and unique ceramic structures, reaching a TRL 2-3 at the end of the project. The passive systems will be based on thermal equilibration establishing an efficient heat transfer from highly loaded areas to regions with less loading. New ceramic matrix composites incorporating a new generation of highly thermal conductive fibres will be applied. In addition, active cooling will be implemented by passing a fluid through a ceramic porous structure. The project includes a strong effort on design, modelling and simulation in order to fulfil the technical requirements before integrating the complete TPS. Finally the concepts will be verified by ground tests under realistic entry conditions in high enthalpy facilities.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Many technical challenges need to be overcome to attain a reusable system that can withstand the high temperatures of entering into a planet's atmosphere. EU-funded engineers have embraced these challenges by developing new concepts based on recent progress in composite materials.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Thermal control systems consist of materials designed to maintain all vehicle components within tolerable temperature limits during the many mission phases. Despite changing heat loads and thermal environments, all these systems use high-emissivity materials or coatings to ensure the maximum rejection of incoming heat.

The EU-funded project http://www.thor-space.eu/ (THOR) (Innovative thermal management concepts for thermal protection of future space vehicles) was launched to advance new thermal control concepts. Specifically, four new concepts will be verified by extensive testing under realistic atmospheric entry conditions.

Two concepts are based on minimising thermal gradients by transferring heat efficiently from highly loaded surfaces to less loaded components of the spacecraft. By using new ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials with integrated conductive carbon fibres, THOR partners work on maximising heat exchange through heat conduction and radiation.

Active cooling is the key feature of the other two THOR concepts. These thermal control systems will combine multiple methods for heat protection, including transpiration cooling of external spacecraft surfaces and convective cooling based on a sandwiched structure composed of a CMC skin and a core made of ceramic foam.

For each concept, models are being designed and manufactured to be tested in the THOR partners' arc heated and wind tunnel facilities in Germany and Japan. A technology readiness level higher than two is expected to be achieved for the new thermal control concepts by the end of the project.

The THOR project will help maintain Europe's leadership in thermal protection by significantly improving aerodynamic performance and flight path control for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere from orbital flight . The same technologies would be beneficial for hypersonic transport vehicles, in particular when launched by rocket propulsion.