Electrical Cable Pinching Members Creating Thermal Bridges
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical cables for space applications face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat generated by high amperage and high-frequency currents, which can lead to damage due to high electrical losses.
Innovation Solution
A cable arrangement with clamping members that exert a pinching force to create thermal bridges between conductors and the outer sheath, facilitating heat conduction and evacuation through convection and radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high amperage and high-frequency currents are used in space applications, then power supply capability is improved, but heat generation increases leading to cable damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cable structure is segmented into multiple thermal conduction paths by adding clamping members that create discrete thermal bridges between the conductor and outer sheath. This segmentation allows heat to be distributed and evacuated through multiple parallel paths, effectively reducing temperature buildup while maintaining high power capability
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping members act as intermediary elements that facilitate thermal conduction between the inner conductor and the outer sheath. These intermediaries create thermal bridges that efficiently transfer heat from the heat-generating conductor to the heat-dissipating outer sheath, resolving the temperature issue while preserving power supply capability
2Temperature
If thermal bridges are created by pinching the cable, then heat dissipation is improved, but cable structure is deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The pinching action is applied locally at specific positions along the cable rather than uniformly throughout. The clamping members create localized thermal bridges at discrete points, improving heat dissipation where needed while minimizing overall structural deformation and maintaining cable flexibility in non-pinched regions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively enhances heat dissipation by a factor of 10 to 100, ensuring the cable's longevity and performance in space environments.
Implementation Method 1
a deformation of the section of the cable creating bridges by thermal conduction directly connecting the elongate conductors and an external surface of the sheath
Implementation Method 2
evacuating heat produced by a circulation of electric current in said cable
Implementation Method 3
evacuating heat produced by a circulation of electric current in said cable
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement (300) of at least one electrical cable (100), suitable for a space environment, comprising an outer sheath (110) and comprising at least a plurality of elongate conductors (120) arranged in the sheath, the sheath having an outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cable, the cable arrangement comprising a cable pinching member (200), configured to exert at least one pinching force (F) on the sheath in order to clamp the conductors and the sheath transversely, the pinching force being determined to create a deformation of the section of the cable creating bridges by thermal conduction directly connecting the elongate conductors and an outer surface of the sheath, thus discharging heat produced by a flow of electric current in the cable. The invention also relates to a spacecraft (10) including such an arrangement.