Study on Near-field Thermal Radiation in Submicron Range and Application of Active radiation device

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26820058
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Thermal engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: UENO Ai 東京大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 研究員 (50647211)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 熱ふく射 / 近接場 / ナノギャップ / MEMSラジエータ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Radiation control is crucial to maintain the operation temperature of satellites under varying irradiation of sunlight. Previously, bulky heat exchangers with heat pipe or thermal louvers/shutters with a low fill factor are proposed for the task, although they are not suitable for next-generation small satellites. In the present study, we propose an array of electrostatically-driven MEMS(Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) diaphragms for active control of thermal radiation using the near-field effect. We have successfully fabricated a prototype with parylene shared springs and achieved a fill factor of as high as 89 %. It is found that at the ON state, the diaphragm temperature is increased from 58.0 ℃ to 106.4 ℃, showing 144 % enhancement in the radiation heat flux.

Free Research Field

熱工学