ACT's Aerospace Products Group offers cost effective heat pipe and loop heat pipe products to aerospace thermal control applications.

Constant Conductance Heat Pipes (CCHP): Use axial groove wick structures to transfer heat from payloads to a radiator or as part of an integrated radiator panel.

Constant conductance heat pipes

Variable Conductance Heat Pipes (VCHP): Use specially designed gas reservoirs to provide passive and precision temperature control of instrument and electronics.

Variable conductance heat pipe

Loop Heat Pipes (LHP): Use ultra fine pore wicks to passively transport heat over long distances or distribute heat to large radiator panels.

Loop heat pipe

The Aerospace Products Group is also developing advanced products for next generation aerospace applications. These include titanium/water heat pipes and LHPs, pressure controlled heat pipes, and intermediate temperature heat pipes (250 to 500°C). The group's design and analysis capabilities include 3D solid modeling, CFD, FEA and in house CCHP, VCHP and LHP design codes. Some specialty testing equipment includes bell a thermo-vacuum chamber, jar vacuum systems, and wick characterization apparatus.

All aerospace products are designed and manufactured under ACT's AS9100-B certified quality system and stringent manufacturing and quality control processes. Examples of the steps in these processes include:

• material certification
• multi stage flush etch and rinse with bath monitoring
• triple distillation and processing
• aerospace (AWS D17.1) certified welders
• helium mass spectrometry leak detection
• proof and burst pressure verification
• accelerated aging and thermal cycling.

Reliability is of paramount importance for all aerospace heat pipes and LHPs. Many satellite applications require the heat pipes and LHPs to operate without any degradation for more than ten years.

The most common failure modes are the breach of the heat pipe seals and the contamination of the heat pipe internal fluid/material system. All of ACT's aerospace heat pipes and LHPs are sealed by welding, and all welds are x-ray inspected to the most stringent aerospace standards. Multiple operations are incorporated in the manufacturing processes to prevent contamination, ensure fluid purity, and verify the cleanliness of the heat pipe or loop heat pipe.

As an ultimate proof of the manufacturing processes, ACT maintains an aerospace heat pipe life test program. These heat pipes are operated at elevated temperatures, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. The elevated temperatures accelerate the development of any problems in the heat pipe seals or caused by contamination. The life test program is continuing indefinitely, with the life test result updated periodically on this website.

Additional information on ACT's aerospace products:

Constant Conductance Heat Pipes

Variable Conductance Heat Pipes

Loop Heat Pipes

Aerospace Heat Pipe Life Test

Military/Commercial Products

Temperature Calibration and Control Products

Engineering Services

Product Ordering Information

ACT Fact Sheet

Contact and Visit ACT Information

ACT Facility

ISO 9001:2008 and AS 9100-B Certification

ACT Brochures and Product Datasheets

ACT Technical Papers

ACT Patents