Final qualification in vibration of a Phase Change Material Heat Storage Device
for the European Space Agency
PCM are materials selected for their high latent heat, which the phase transition (melting and solidifying) at the relevant temperature range is able to absorb and release a large amount of energy. They are usually stored in hermetically sealed container which is thermally coupled to the dissipative unit.
Although already existing for a long time and used on several Space missions, PCM capacitors are still regarded as a potential and efficient thermal control solution, not only to cope with single shot use (e.g. short launch mission, atmospheric entry) but also for in-orbit missions including cycling and/or significant variations of internal dissipation or external fluxes.