By Nanovac AB
Smarter testbeds for space Automation-led vacuum platforms for aerospace R&D and qualification Vacuum system platforms engineered for repeatability, safety and uptime—from centimeter-class rigs to multi-meter, long-format chambers What we build - systems that fit your program, not the other way We’ve delivered thermal-vacuum systems from centimeter-class volumes to multi-meter envelopes, including long-format builds for propulsion and extended payloads. We combine proven modules with custom mechanics so your DUT, ports, thermal fixtures and cleanliness instruments fit exactly—without sacrificing lead time or traceability. Chambers & mechanics • Geometries: cylindrical, rectangular, square, hexagonal and hybrid forms. • Loading/orientation: horizontal (front access) and vertical top-load. • Access mechanisms: front-swing doors (left/right), vertical lift lids with tilt, sliding domes with integrated tables, multi-access service ports. • Interfaces: flexible ISO/CF/NW + rectangular ports; custom feed-throughs (power, fluids, fiber, RF, propellant). • Fixtures: from standard to complex multi-zone thermal plates and shroud-ready internals; clean harness routing and witness locations designed-in. • Installations: ballroom, on-frame or thru-wall to match cleanroom flow and service access. Vacuum & measurement • Architectures: turbomolecular high-vacuum (direct mount or gate valved), cryopumped high-vacuum, or hybrid stacks (turbo+cryo) to allow for online cryo regeneration maintaining high vacuum. • Propulsion pumping: configurable cryo-array manifolds for very high effective pumping speeds during thruster firing and plume transients • Backing: dry backing pumps across all platforms to minimize contamination risk. • Chamber pressure: combination gauges (Pirani/cold cathode) and/or ion gauges, selected per application and pressure range. • Regulation: high-accuracy capacitance manometers for closed-loop pressure control. • Foreline/backing: Pirani gauging on all roughing paths. • Serviceability: gate-valve options and sensible gauge placement for safe isolation, maintenance and recipe-driven control. Thermal control • Architectures: thermal-bath solutions for table and shroud, plus hybrid two-channel configurations pairing baths with LN2/GN2 for extended range and fast transients. • TCU topology: dedicated TCU per table and per shroud when required; available as liquid-driven or via our proprietary LN2 delivery platform. • Operating range: LN2 platform supports −180°C to +220°C with flood mode and seamless closed-loop control across the full span. • Distribution: flood / serpentine / multi-zone manifolds; low-ΔT design for uniformity; inert-gas purge and dry-break options for clean connects. • Profiles: recipe-driven ramps / soaks / holds, coordinated table to shroud phasing, rate limiting, pre-cool / pre-heat logic, dwell extensions under API/DUT control. • Regulation sensors: dynamic regulator TC assignment per recipe step (or by logical rule—e.g., max/median/ voting/gated by location) for complex DUTs. • NanoTune™: patent-pending adaptive control that evaluates thermal load and auto-adapts regulation in real time—no operator tuning required. • Fixtures: multi-zone thermal plates for fast stabilization and high uniformity; shroud interfaces prepared from day one with emissivity options and daisy-chain cooling. • Sensing: expandable TC/RTD channels sized to the DUT; optional contact + non-contact IR; calibration/mapping support for uniformity documents. • Protection: dew/frost management; interlocks on flow/pressure/level/temperature; leak detection and vacuum-safe relief paths; recipe-level safeties for DUT protection. Cleanliness & contamination • RGA: real-time species identification with recipe-defined sampling windows. • TQCM: deposition-rate and crystal-temperature tracking on temperature-controlled crystals. • Logic gates: step-level control using thresholds/timers (e.g., hold until species X < Y for Z s; advance when deposition < R for N s), with AND/OR/VOTE rules and hysteresis. • NanoSuite integration: NanoTrace™ + QuickTrend™ fuse RGA and partial-pressure data with TQCM—time-aligned to recipes; gates and outcomes are logged & stamped. • Closed loop: via NanoLink™, DUT to/from Chamber events and gate results drive step holds/advances and safe-state actions; a unified dataset is produced for QA/analytics. Software & integration • Control: SpaceSoft™ with ISA-88 recipes, real-time logging, reporting and an open API. • Two-way DUT link: NanoLink™ allows the DUT to trigger chamber actions in real time (extend dwell, hold pressure, safe state) while the chamber publishes time-stamped events and measurements back—one unified dataset (DUT - Chamber - Database). Safety & uptime • Interlocks: PLC-based safety aligned with EN ISO 13849-1; distributed I/O for serviceability and future proofing the platform. • Remote: industrial VPN for secure monitoring, updates and email alerts; service scheduling to protect availability. Applications & test modes • Thermal-vacuum cycles: functional/performance /survival; table to shroud coordination; dynamic regulator-TC per step; NanoTune™ auto-adapt. • Bake-out & outgassing (metrics): RGA + QuickTrend™ with TQCM; logic-gated holds/advances to acceptance thresholds. • Ascent / descent & pressurization: altitude/pressure ramps coupled to temperature; capacitance-manometer control; vent / purge / repress sequences. • Thermal balance & shock: steady-state mapping, multi-zone plates/shrouds; high-ΔT/dt with rate-limiters and DUT-driven dwell extensions. • Propulsion & plume: duty-cycle/long-duration firings; cryo-array pumping; RGA/NanoTrace + QuickTrend + TQCM correlation; safe-state hooks via NanoLink. • Vacuum exposure & purge: controlled N2 purges, moisture management, cleanliness interlocks; dry backing and filtered inlets. Interfaces & facility integration • Feed-throughs: high-current power, low-level I/O, RF/ coax, fibre/optics, fluid/propellant; custom pinouts under NDA. • Motion & vision: linear/rotary feed-throughs, viewport options, camera/lighting mounts, internal harness routing & strain-relief. • Services: GN2 purge skids, LN2 supply/return, chilled-water ties; vacuum-safe relief paths; O2 / pressure/flow interlocks, E-stop & maintenance-bypass. • Layouts: ballroom/thru-wall/on-frame; facility layout drawings and lift/rigging constraints provided at quote. Data & traceability • Recipes: versioned ISA-88 steps with limits/ tolerances; operator prompts & pre-run checks. • Time base: unified time-stamps for sensors, RGA/TQCM and DUT - Chamber -Database events (via NanoLink™). • Run records: step history, setpoint vs actual, gate outcomes, anomalies; auto-generated reports (PDF/ CSV) for QA/FRB/COC. • Export & API: clean data pulls for analytics/OPC-UA/ PLM; optional redaction profiles for supplier/authority hand-offs. “From centimeter-class benches to multi-meter propulsion, our governed TVAC unites hybrid turbo/cryo vacuum, adaptive liquid media/LN2 table and shroud control, two-way NanoSuite™ API with your DUT, and RGA/TQCM evidence— delivering repeatable runs, clean data, and faster qualification.”
