A High Conductance Detachable Heat Switch for ADRs

C.Y. TAi, Y. Wong, A.J. Rodenbush, C.H. Joshi,
Energen, Inc.
Lowell MA 01854

P.J. Shirron
Code 552
NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771

Energen, Inc. has developed and demonstrated a high conductance detachable thermal link (that is, a heat switch) for operation at sub-Kelvin temperatures using a high-force cryogenic magnetostrictive actuator. This heat switch uses KelvinAll (TM), a magnetostrictive material developed by Energen, as the active element. Unlike other magnetostrictive materials, KelvinAll operates over a broad temperature range. At Cryogenic temperatures, it delivers a long stroke, allowing a large separation gap between the contacting surfaces when the switch is disengaged. This makes alignment and operation of the heat switch simple.

Advances in Cryogenic Engineering: Transactions of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference -CEC, Vol. 49 Part A, ed. J. Waynert et al. pp. 443 - 450 (2004, American Institute of Physics).