The mechanical link to the vacuum environment
Space simulation chambers are the test medium for spacecraft and their subsystems. According to industry literature, there are two main types: thermal vacuum chambers and systems with a solar simulator, known as solar simulation chambers. The mechanical movement required inside these chambers is generated by two basic mechanisms. One method uses a magnetic drive. The other relies on a vacuum-tight seal on a mechanical device that moves through the vacuum wall. This is where ferrofluid rotary vacuum feedthroughs function. They use ferrofluid as the sealing mechanism to transmit rotary motion into the vacuum chamber.
Supporting advanced vacuum and thermal testing
Modern space simulation demands sophisticated support systems. For example, to achieve the tremendous pumping speed needed for space simulation in the presence of xenon, cold panels are added to the chamber. These panels are cooled to temperatures below 50K by single stage cryocoolers. Xenon gas condenses directly on the panels inside the vacuum chamber. A small cryo panel of 600mm in diameter has a pumping speed of 16,000 l/s inside the chamber. This occurs with zero conductance losses as it is directly exposed. This creates a harsh, cryogenic environment where any rotary feedthrough must operate without contaminating the chamber or losing seal integrity.
Integration into chamber infrastructure
The physical integration of these components is evident in operational labs. At one facility, a new thermal vacuum chamber sits in a lab room. It is described as very tall, with a sign reading 'Caution: Gloves Required'. In the workspace, wires hang from the ceiling. This environment is typical for the testing of satellite components and other space-bound hardware. The feedthrough provides a reliable rotary interface in such a setting, allowing for sample manipulation or motion of internal fixtures without breaking the vacuum. Its performance directly supports the extended, full stability testing that these chambers enable.
We manufacture related sealing products for these demanding research and industrial applications.