Facility 239:  7' X 8' Cryopumped Vacuum 

 

Description: This is a horizontal loading thermal vacuum test chamber equipped with a viewport to accommodate an external solar simulator. An overhead rail is available for mounting purposes and stainless steel tubes are available for hanging thermal blankets. The facility is used for thermal vacuum and thermal balance testing, and baking out test items. A clean tent at the chamber entrance provides class 10,000 cleanliness conditions.

 

Mode of Operation: The test item is craned or hand carried onto the payload cart positioned at the chamber door. Typically, the payload is instrumented and connected to gse prior to rolling it into the chamber. Ground support equipment cabling is connected through the penetration plates and ambient functional checks are performed. Prior to solar testing, it is normal to perform an alignment check of the test item with the external simulator. Access to the chamber is through a clean tent. The use of cleanroom procedures and the wearing of clean garments are required when working in the chamber.

 

Parameters:

Test pressure:                                     <1 x 10-5 Torr (<2x10-7 psi)    

Shroud temperature:

            GN2 mode:                              -138°C to +125°C (-216°F to +257°F)

            LN2 mode:                              -190°C (-310°F)

Cryopump speed for N2:                   30,000 l/s (63,560 cfm)

 

Physical Characteristics:

Test volume:                                       2.13 m diameter x 2.44 m L (7’ x 8’)

Payload support:                                44” x 76” cart – 584 kg (1288 lb) capacity

                                                              43.5” x 80” cart – 729 kg (1607 lb) capacity

Crane Capacity:                                  4,536 kg (5 ton)

Viewport dimensions:                       30 cm (12”) diameter quartz window

Std. electrical feedthroughs:             61-pin, 37-pin, 7-pin, 4-pin, RF

 

Integral Instrumentation:

Pressure:                                      Convectron - Atm to 0.13 Pa (10-3 Torr)

                                                      Ion gauge - 10-3 Torr to ultimate

Payload temperature:                126 channels

Contamination monitors:        TQCM, cold finger, scavenger plate, res. gas analyzer

 

Auxiliary Equipment: Heater racks and thermal conditioning units (tcus) are available to control auxiliary heater panels, cryopanels and baseplates. The portable solar simulator can be used with this chamber.

 

Rental Rate:  Inquire