CUPOLA Environmental Control System

The Cupola Environmental Control System (ECS) has the task to ensure the required Cupola internal environment using passive and active control means, in response to the relevant applicable Cupola requirements. The ECS is subdivided into a Thermal Control Subsystem (TCS) and an Environmental & Life Control Subsystem (ECLS).

The particular characteristics of Cupola design requires a non standard way to control the internal environment conditions:

• TCS controls the Cupola primary structures through an High Temperature water Loop (HTL) avoiding shell heaters necessity in the cold cases and representing also an heat sink for the windows assy in the hot cases;
• ECLS design realizes the air distribution inside the cabin volume using the gap existing between the primary and secondary structure without dedicated ducts.

The major ECS functions are:

• to control the primary and secondary structure temperatures,
• to homogenize the structural walls temperature using the HTL,
• to prevent the condensate formation inside the Cupola,
• to control the Cupola Internal Pressure,
• to guarantee a fire protection inside Cupola,
• to define an air distribution concept,
• to support a safe, habitable, shirtsleeve environment inside the Cupola.

The paper describes also the extensive analysis campaign planned to support the Cupola TCS and ECLS design and verification phases.