Abstract
This paper describes a new passive thermal control device - a Reversible Thermal Panel (RTP), which changes its function reversibly from radiator to solar absorber by deploying/stowing the radiator/absorber reversible fin. The RTP experimental model was designed and fabricated using highly oriented graphite sheets (HOGS_S), honeycomb base palate and shape memory alloy (SMA). The heat rejection performances and autonomous thermal controllability were evaluated by the thermal vacuum tests. The test results show the excellent performances of the RTP as a passive radiator in the point of specific heat rejection. The necessity of designing the reversible rotary actuator with SMA, which has higher deployment torque, was revealed.
