Partner Article

From Down Under to above and beyond: Ashington manufacturer completes space project

Ashington’s Aavid Thermacore Europe has completed work on a project which will enable astronomers to further explore the origins of the universe.

Working with Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the North East manufacturer helped to design a cooling system for the institute’s new high-tech radio telescope receivers known as ‘phased array feeds’ (PAF).

Forming part of CSIRO’s newest radio telescope, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), the phased array feeds create 36 simultaneous beams to give an enhanced view of the sky.

The innovation means that ASKAP will capture radio images of the sky in more detail and faster than ever before, helping astronomers to answer fundamental questions about our universe, such as the nature of cosmic magnetism and the evolution and formation of galaxies.

CSIRO contacted Aavid Thermacore through the firm’s distributor in Australia, JHC Specialised Solutions, to help create a thermal management solution.

David Mullen, project engineer, Aavid Thermacore Europe, said: “Over two years, we delivered more than 36 systems, each with a 1.2 metre diameter complex assemblies with embedded heat-pipes, thermo-electric fin-stack coolers, and heat transfer assemblies to CSIRO in Sydney, who then integrated them into the PAF receivers and dispatched them to ASKAP engineers on-site in Western Australia.

“Throughout the project, Aavid Thermacore provided ongoing support to CSIRO to help them implement the thermal management solution.

“There are lots of challenges that come with managing a project on the other side of the world, but we rose to meet them and we are delighted to have had our hard work recognised by CSIRO with a Recognition Award.”

Steve Barker, project leader, CSIRO, who flew in from Sydney, Australia to present a plaque to staff at Aavid Thermacore Europe’s Ashington facility, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Aavid Thermacore for its support with the ASKAP project.

“Throughout their time working on the project, the staff at Aavid Thermacore continually went above and beyond to provide support and guidance to our engineers on-site in Australia.

“Their knowledge and expertise in thermal management has enabled us to progress with the project, so I am delighted to present them with a Recognition Award for all of their hard work.”

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