CPA: A Controlled Pump Assembly for Application on S/C Cooling Loops

This paper presents the final results of a technology contract initiated by ESA at the end of 1990 to develop a controlled pump unit for use on board spacecraft and space vehicles. The main features required for the CPA were the adaptability to any working environment (vacuum or pressurised compartment, operation in any mission phase) with a high degree of reliability and efficiency, the compatibility with a wide range of fluids and the usability as a component of both single phase and two phase cooling loops.

The final design of the assembly is presented and discussed. The main part of the presentation is devoted to the description of the tests performed to qualify the design and to the presentation and discussion of their results.

The programme demonstrated that the technology for a flight worthy, compact, light variable speed pump assembly is available in Europe, in particular for special applications as on board spacecraft requiring very low disturbance levels (microgravity applications) or on board vehicles requiring operations during high mechanical load phases (launch and re-entry).