Spacetec

Project: Spacetec

European Thermodynamic Limited was founded in 2001, a privately owned company, headquartered in Kibworth, Leicester, which specialises in bespoke thermal management products and solutions. With a team of 25 full and part-time staff, we have achieved an annual turnover of £4.2 million. Our core competency lies in thermal management solutions and production, catering to low and high-volume demands.

The SpaceTEC project is a strategic initiative aimed at advancing our expertise in thermal management technology, specifically targeting space instruments. With a focus on developing a multi-stage thermoelectric device, the project encompasses various activities such as design, modelling, material procurement, and rigorous testing.

 

Publicity and Engagement: 

The project has received recognition and support from key industry players. We are strategically promoting our initiative by actively participating in relevant events and utilising platforms such as the Midlands Aerospace Alliance and the UK Space Agency. Additionally, we plan to spotlight the noteworthy achievements of the SpaceTEC project through a dedicated news article on the European Thermodynamic Limited (ETL) website. This article will underscore the project’s significance and establish a seamless link for broader outreach on the Midlands Aerospace Alliance and the UK Space Agency platforms.

Future Exploitation and Market Engagement: 

As we project beyond the immediate scope of the current initiative, our strategic focus revolves around active engagement with the space sector. The objective is to generate preliminary data sheets and reliability reports tailored specifically for space instruments. The identification and branding of standard space sector devices under our Adaptive brand, featuring SpaceTEC incorporation, will serve as a pivotal step in solidifying and expanding our presence in the market.

Anticipating the success of our technological advancements, we are poised to scale our technology into low-medium volume markets. Initial validation efforts within burgeoning sectors such as optoelectronics, 5G, and LIDAR will strategically position us for potential high-volume production. This forward-looking approach aligns with our commitment to staying at the forefront of technological evolution.

Contemplating the potential spin-off of our TEC device manufacturing, we have taken proactive steps by pre-registering a dedicated company and securing domain names. This foresighted strategy is driven by our exploration of avenues for securing the necessary capital investment to facilitate the scaling of our production capabilities for high-volume demands.

A meticulous dissemination plan has been outlined to ensure that the outcomes of our project, including data sheets, reports, and valuable lessons learned, reach not only the targeted audience within the space sector but also resonate beyond. This approach is integral to sharing our technological achievements and insights with a wider community.

Project Objectives

  • Develop, build, and test a multi-stage thermoelectric device suitable for the space industry.
  • Develop and test an improved metallisation process suitable for space applications.
  • Test the company’s advanced materials in high DT applications.
  • Develop manufacturing procedures and test plans suitable for the space sector.
  • Improve alignment methods and processes to ensure high yields.
  • Provide strong evidence to support commercial engagement with the space sector.
  • Disseminate performance and test data, engage with contractors, and develop internal design tools for future projects.
  • Produce an internal design tool for future multi-stage device modelling.
  • Establish strong evidence for commercial engagement with the space sector and qualify as a European and international supplier.

Deliverables & Timescales:

  • The project unfolds through a sequence of milestones, initiating the design and modelling phase. It progresses seamlessly, navigating through material procurement and device development before reaching its culmination in testing and documentation completion. Key deliverables embedded in this comprehensive timeline encompass detailed reports on the design, metallisation, materials tuning, and testing, coupled with the creation of preliminary data sheets for dissemination.
  • Furthermore, the project timeline features specific milestones vital to its success. Notable among these are design freeze, marking a critical point in the design process, device builds complete, signalling the conclusion of device manufacturing, and testing and documentation completion, signifying the finalisation of testing and documentation phases. Each of these milestones is meticulously accompanied by a delineation of detailed deliverables and their corresponding timescales, ensuring a structured and well-monitored progression through the project phases.

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