Design Optimization and Experimental Analysis of Heat Flow in a CubeSat PCM Thermal Control Unit

The use of Phase-Change Materials (PCMs) for thermal control and energy storage has been extensively demonstrated in ground-based applications but has had limited use in the spaceflight environment. PCMs present a strong option for relatively simple, passive thermal regulation. This work presents experimental verification of the thermal performance of n-eicosane as a PCM in a novel CubeSat-oriented application. The experiments conducted include n-eicosane used as the thermal storage medium with and without an aluminum foam internal heat transfer enhancement geometry. Test results indicate the presence of key thermal storage signatures and behaviors such as temperature plateaus during phase change, as well as significant improvements in performance with the inclusion of the foam.