The David Florida Laboratory (DFL) Thermal Qualification Facilities have one thermal chamber [T1], one thermal humidity chamber [TH1], two thermal PIM (passive intermodulation) chambers [TP1 and TP2], one bakeout chamber [TV1], plus four cylindrical thermal vacuum chambers [TV2], [TV3], [TV4], and [TV5]. The TV5 Chamber (7 x 10 m) is our largest and is used for testing of all-up spacecraft while the three smaller cylindrical thermal vacuum chambers can be used for subsystem and component level testing.

T1 Chamber (3.0 x 4.3 m) TH1 Chamber (1 x 1 m) TP1 Chamber (2.7 x 3.7 m) TP2 Chamber (3.7 x 3.7 m) TV1 Chamber (1 x 1 m) TV2 Chamber (1 x 1 m) TV3 Chamber (2.5 x 2.5 m) TV4 Chamber (no longer in service) TV5 Chamber (7 x 10 m) Support Facilities Thermal Conditioners Custom Data Processing Applications

T1 Chamber (3.0 x 4.3 m)

• Chamber size: 3.0 x 4.3 x 2.7 m (10 x 14 x 8 ft)
• Working volume: 2.8 x 4.2 x 2.4 m  (9.2 x 13.8 x 7.9 ft)
• Temperature range: ±100°C (+212 to -148°F).

TH1 Chamber (1 x 1 m)

• Dimensions (interior): 1.02 x 1.00 x 1.17 m (40 x 40 x 46 inches)
• Humidity specifications: range 10 to 97% RH, control ±2.5% RH, uniformity: ±1.0% RH
• Temperature range: +180 to -70°C (+356 to -94°F).

TP1 Chamber (2.7 x 3.7 m)

• Chamber size: 2.7 x 3.7 x 2.7 m (8 x 12 x 8 ft)
• Working volume: 1.6 x 3.4 x 1.9 m (5.3 x 11.2 x 6.2 ft)
• Temperature range: +93 to -73°C (+200 to -100°F)
• Temperature range in foam box: +120 to -73°C (+248 to -100°F).

TP2 Chamber (3.7 x 3.7 m)

• Chamber size: 3.7 x 3.7 x 4.9 m (12 x 12 x 16 ft)
• Working volume: 2.8 x 2.8 x 4.5 m (9.2 x 9.2 x 14.8 ft)
• Temperature range: + 93 to -73°C (+200 to -100°F).

TV1 Chamber (1 x 1 m)

• Chamber size / working volume: 0.93 x 0.93 x 0.93 m (36 x 36 x 36 in)
• High vacuum: one closed loop cryogenic pump capable of 10,000 litres/second nitrogen
• Pressure range (loaded): 1.3 E-3 to 1.3 E-5 Pa (10 E-5 to 10 E-7 Torr)
• Temperature: ±150°C (+300 to -240°F) in gaseous nitrogen mode and -186°C (-300°F) in liquid nitrogen mode.

TV2 Chamber (1 x 1 m)

• Chamber size / working volume: 1 x 1 m deep (36 x 36 in)
• High vacuum: one closed loop cryogenic pump capable of 10,000 litres/second nitrogen
• Heat load: 500 W
• Pressure range (loaded): 1.3 E-3 to 1.3 E-5 Pa (10 E-5 to 10 E-7 Torr)
• Temperature: ±150°C (+300 to -240°F) in gaseous nitrogen mode and -186°C (-300°F) in liquid nitrogen mode.

TV3 Chamber (2.5 x 2.5 m)

• Chamber size / working volume: 2.5 x 2.5 m (deep) (8 x 8 ft)
• High vacuum: two closed loop cryogenic pumps each capable of 10,000 litres/second nitrogen
• Heat load: 2 kW
• High vacuum (loaded): 1.3 E-3 to 1.3 E-5 Pa (10 E-5 to 10 E-7 Torr)
• Temperature: ±150°C (+300 to -240°F) in gaseous nitrogen mode and -186°C (-300°F) in liquid nitrogen mode.

TV4 Chamber

• Retired from service in March, 2005.

TV5 Chamber (7 x 10 m)

• Chamber working size: 6.7 x 10.7 m deep (22 x 35 ft)
• Working Volume: 377 cubic m (13,300 cubic ft)

Chamber access

• Access diameter within shrouds: 6.7 x 10.7 m deep (22 x 35 ft)
• Access for personnel is through the 2.2 m wide (7 ft) main door
• Access for personnel is through the 1.5 m wide (5 ft) auxiliary door
• Access for UUTs is through the removable, 7 m wide (35 ft) circular top lid
• Internal staging depends on test requirements and is designed to be vertically adjustable.

Port sizes

• 60 cm (24 inch) port (1)
• 30 cm (12 inch) ports (36)
• 20 cm (8 inch) ports (12).

Specimen supports

• Bottom end-bell hard points, 4 x 6,800 kg (15,000 lb), or 13,600 kg (30,000 lb) maximum
• Bottom end-bell hard points that are isolated from the chamber, 4 x 6,800 kg (15,000 lb), or 27,000 kg (60,000 lb) maximum
• Middle cylindrical section hard points, 36 hard points are located in six rings on the chamber wall, 4,500 kg (10,000 lb) per ring, or 13,600 kg (30,000 lb) maximum
• Top lid hard points, 8 x 275 kg (600 lb), or 2,200 kg (5,000 lb) maximum.

Thermal subsystems

• Shroud construction: extruded aluminum
• Shroud surface properties: CAT-A-LAC black paint; (a>0.90 (lambda=0.4 to 20µm) at 22°C (72°F)
• Temperature: liquid nitrogen mode (open-loop boiling system)
• Heat load: 1.1 solar constants / 50% shroud area, load 260 kW maximum
• Cool down duration: from ambient to liquid nitrogen temperature in approximately three hours – after chamber is in high vacuum
• Warm-up duration: from liquid nitrogen to ambient temperature in approximately sixteen hours
• Auxiliary Liquid Nitrogen Recirculation System (LNRS): closed-loop liquid nitrogen cooling through six individual zones; pressure: 690 kPa (100 psig) maximum; and heat load: 50 kW maximum.

Vacuum subsystems

• Three high-vacuum pumps with isolation valves: closed-loop gaseous helium with a pumping speed of 55,000 litres/second nitrogen (117,000 CFM)
• Three mechanical pumps: 2,700 cu m/hour each (1,600 CFM each), 1.0 E+5 to 1.0 E-3 Pa (10 E+3 to 10 E-5 torr)
• High vacuum in liquid nitrogen mode (nominal): 1.5 E-4 to 1.5 E-5 Pa (10 E-6 to 10 E-7 torr)
• Turbo pump: helium leak testing, 1,500 litres/second (3,180 CFM)
• Pump down duration: from ambient to high vacuum in approximately 8 hours (typical)
• Chamber venting duration: from high vacuum to ambient in 3 hours (typical) - after shrouds are at ambient.

Infrared lamp bank system

• Internal infrared structure is client supplied.

Support Facilities

• Crane: 23,000 kg (50,000 lb) gantry crane, 11 m (36 ft) hook height
• Floor area: 325 m square (3,500 square feet)
• IR and solar emissivity reflectivity
• Outgassing studies: ASTM, NASA, ESA
• Residual gas analysis
• Test capabilities: helium leak testing.

Thermal Conditioners

• Cooling capacity: 23.45 kW at -140°C (-220°F)
• Gaseous nitrogen flow rate: 960 litres/second (250 US gallons/second) with external static pressure of 5 cm (2 inches) of water
• Internal heating capacity: 18 kW
• Mixing volume: 97 x 97 x 61 cm (38 x 38 x 24 inches)
• Temperature control: ±1°C (±2 °F)
• Temperature range: +149 to -150°C (+300 to -240 °F).

Custom Data Processing Applications

DFL-developed custom data processing applications are designed to be used on GUI-based operator interface stations and give the technologist or computer operator access to their test or process information in a familiar visual and operational format and provide research and engineering personnel with detailed historical analysis and useful file management functions.

To date, the DFL has developed and implemented the Thermal Data Processing System (TDPS), the Thermal Vacuum Data Processing System (TVDPS), the Thermal Response And Power System (TRAPS), the thermal chamber control program (THERMAL X), and the bakeout chamber control program (BAKEOUT).