University of Arizona Thermal Vacuum Chamber

The University of Arizona’s thermal vacuum chamber (TVC) is the world’s largest university-based thermal vacuum chamber.

Location

Tucson, AZ

Industry

Education

Square Footage

1,500

Services Provided

Commissioning, Controls Design, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering

Challenge

The University of Arizona purchased an approximately 25-foot long, 14-foot high thermal vacuum chamber (TVC) to be installed in their new Applied Research Building (ARB) facility. To operate, the chamber requires the design of support systems, including a variety of vacuum pumps, liquid and gaseous nitrogen, compressed air, process cooling water, electrical power, and process controls and integration. The TVC will be used to simulate environmental conditions in space.

Approach

KFI provided mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering, process controls design and integration, and commissioning services for the TVC at the ARB.

Outcome

The TVC is capable of:

Testing objects as large as a pick-up truck
Maintaining vacuum pressure at 5 torr for balloon-borne missions and 1×10-5 torr for space-based missions (1 atm = 760 torr)
Temperatures within the inner shroud of the chamber are capable of reaching -315⁰F

Project Team

James Faulconbridge, PE

President

Zach Verbick, PE

Director, Utilities and Central Energy

David Jansa

Director, Marketing and Business Development

Related Projects

Penn State University Combined Heat and Power Expansion

University of Notre Dame Turbomachinery Lab at Ignition Park

Northern Arizona University Applied Research and Development Building

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