Thermal characterization of a new differential thermal expansion heat switch for space optical remote sensor

Abstract Thermal control for Charge Converse Device (CCD) is a key issue in space optical remote sensor. Heat switch is appropriate for heat dissipation of CCD. This paper provides thermal characterization of a new passively actuated differential thermal expansion heat switch (DTE-HS) with automatic adjusting function for CCD thermal control in space optical remote sensor. The radiation thermal resistance is developed to study how the radiation parameters affect the thermal resistance of the heat switch. The heat conduction thermal resistance is developed to describe the thermal characterization of the DTE-HS. A prototype of the DTE-HS is manufactured and tested. The experimental results are consistent well with the theoretical results.