How Does a Thermal Protection System Work?
Leave a CommentHigh-tech aerospace and aeronautical vehicles face numerous hazards during missions, from pressure fluctuations to friction-based heat to extreme changes in temperature. These vehicles require a lasting, reliable thermal protection system (TPS) to endure such conditions and complete their mission successfully.
TPS shields use reflective coatings and insulative layers to shield sensitive materials and assemblies from extreme conditions. Some thermal shields are sacrificial, meaning they burn up (ablate) or degrade during use. However, there is a growing demand for Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) that can withstand multiple exposures to protect vehicles during reentry.
The right TPS system fixed to the exterior of your aircraft protects the people, cargo, and equipment inside from the effects of thermal exposure.
How Does a Thermal Protection System Work?
Thermal protection systems are a specialized form of exterior shielding built for the uniquely hazardous conditions that hypersonic vehicles face. Certain TPS solutions can protect ballistics as they leave and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and can also protect hypersonic cruisers and aerospace vehicles.
Each solution will have different materials and coating options based on the expected environmental conditions and the desired longevity of your shield.
Three different types of TPS are:
- Passive. Passive systems include heat sinks that absorb extra heat and insulation to ward off short-term heat fluxes, as well as hot structures for moderate, long-lasting increases in temperature. With the right materials and designs, these systems can even withstand hypersonic and space re-entry applications.
- Semi-Passive. Semi-passive systems circulate fluids to absorb unwanted heat and release it where it can’t cause damage. This is ideal for long-term and high-heat fluxes, as hypersonic and space reentry environments produce too much heat for them to work effectively.
- Active. Active systems use the same principles of fluid-based heat movement to protect underlying layers of machinery or vehicles. However, the high heat and limited evaporative temperature of coolants make active systems unsuitable for extreme applications.
How Q Shield Beats Other Thermal Protection Systems
Q Shield is a premium thermal protection system from TexTech. Q Shield products offer a unique design to provide critical protection for space vehicles’ outer surfaces. Q Shield solutions insulate vehicles from high-heat temperature extremes during initial launch. They are also built to protect vehicles during reentry, which means vehicles can be safely reused for multiple missions.
Each Q Shield product has a base of high-performance thermal insulation, including a surface coating to resist high-temperature damage and protect the core insulation. We can build each Q Shield product with any of the following customizable factors:
- Emissivity
- Absorptivity
- Electrical conductivity requirements
- Thermal loads
Our pre-painted thermal coating is designed to outperform other TPS options in several key areas. The ablative coating applied to the surface of products during manufacturing reduces onsite labor costs, equipment requirements, and time demands. It doesn’t require a long cure recycle that can throw off launch schedules.
The TexTech team provides black and white surface coating options, as well as custom colors. Additionally, we can modify our proprietary polymer formulations to provide electrical conductivity per your static-dissipation requirements.
Q Shield solutions are reusable and can withstand launch and reentry, which allows for faster vehicle turnaround for future launches. Their reusability also allows for a smaller vehicle fleet, greater profitability from your fleet, and lower launch costs. Q Shield products are highly durable to ensure you get the full value of every spacecraft, hypersonic vehicle, and assembly.
Learn More About TPS From TexTech
TexTech is a leading provider of innovative TPS solutions. We offer a wide range of customization options so our clients have the products they need for each mission.
Contact us today to learn more about our Q Shield products or request a quote to start the order process.