T2 Test Facility

The ENBIO T2 thermal-vacuum (TVAC) test facility is located at the ENBIO R&D lab in Glasnevin, Dublin 11, Ireland, just 15 minutes away from Dublin Airport. This facility utilises a high vacuum chamber with an internal diameter of 60 cm and internal depth of 66 cm.

The chamber contains an aluminium thermal platen, through which a cryo-fluid is circulated. Temperature control of the cryo-fluid is achieved using a dedicated cryo-chiller with 3.0 kW of heating power and ≈ 3 kW of cooling power (3.8 kW at 100 °C, 3.7 kW at 0 °C, 2.2 kW at −60 °C, 0.7 kW at −80 °C). A PT100 resistance temperature detector (RTD) connected to the thermal platen close to the TRP position is used for feedback control by the cryo-chiller. The cryo-chiller has programmable over-temperature and under-temperature protection.

Temperature limits for the system are −70 °C to +150 °C. Ramp rates are programmatically controllable. Maximum attainable ramp rate depends on mass of test article. A ramp rate of 2 °C•min⁻¹ is attainable for test article masses up to ≈ 5 kg.

The thermal platen has a width of 480 mm, length 550 mm, and thickness of 15 mm. The platen has a regular arrangement of through-holes spaced on a 60 mm × 60 mm grid (except for the outer two rows, which are spaced by 45 mm). Test articles are thermally connected to the thermal platen using custom-machined thermal adapter plates, typically made from Al 6082-T6 aluminium alloy (copper thermal adapter plate available upon request).