A passive thermal control system maintains the operating temperature range of
protected
equipment within desired limits by controlling the conductive attributes of thermal
interfaces and physical relationships within the system so as to achieve a desired
thermal balance. In one embodiment, an integrated cell unit (100) includes
a solar array (102), a Lithium ion cell (108) and an antenna assembly
(114) such as a phased array antenna. In operation, a thermal gradient (116)
is defined between the array (102) and the assembly (114) as the
assembly (114) radiates heat from the array (102) into space. The
operating temperature range of the cell (108) is controlled by appropriate
design of the thermal interfaces between the cell (108) and the assembly
(114) and/or interfaces within the assembly (114), such as a thermal
interface associated with dielectric spacers provided between emitter pairs of
the assembly (114).
