Magnetic cleanliness facilities

INTA has more than 40 years of experience in qualification of space equipment and systems in disciplines such as Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), Thermal and Vacuum as well as Vibration tests. Since 2005, the ability to carry out low frequency (below 1 kHz) and DC magnetic tests was acquired, complementary to EMC tests. And since 2016, the Space Magnetism Area (MagnEs) has one of the most sophisticated magnetic testing facilities in Europe located in the forested region of the Torrejón de Ardoz Campus, in the K-11 building, which expands the testing capacity offering a clean environment from magnetic contamination.

The tests comprise:

• Magnetic Cleanliness of equipment and mechanical parts: DC/AC magnetic field measurements, determination of remanent and induced magnetic moments.
• Imanation and de-magnetization.
• Magnetic field susceptibility testing: DC, low frequency magnetic fields down to 30 Hz.
• Magnetometers Calibration.
• Thermo-magnetic signature.

INSTALLATION DESCRIPTION K-11

A) K11 facility building.

B) Tri-axial coils in Helmholtz configuration.

The singular facility K11 has been constructed in an area of minimum magnetic field gradient. The building, isolated from other constructions, has a plant of 10 x 8 m², and has been built with non-magnetic materials (Fig. A). Temperature and humidity control is achieved by a system allocated 25 m far aside from the building and remotely controlled from the building. It is provided with two systems of three axes coils for a test volume in the order of 1 m side cube as well as a pair of coils for demagnetization. The coils systems are aligned with the magnetic North. The inner coils are used for the application of magnetic fields and outer coils (Fig. B), for the compensation of the geomagnetic field. The interior has been kept clear in order to allocate the voluminous electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) for the systems under test. The system is provided with a rotating table whose motor (with a precision better of minutes of arc) is placed at 6 m to avoid the magnetic contamination. Besides the facility has a specific mobile coils for demagnetisation with programmable AC/DC power supply up to 10 mT peak.

K11 Facility main features

For the thermomagnetic signature measurements the facility has a mobile thermally isolated casing of 200 mm side where it is circulated nitrogen gas at the desired temperature between -100 and 40 ºC.

A set of three cylindrical magnetic shielded chambers are available. The biggest chamber sizes  1524 mm length and 508 mm diameter, inner dimensions, and it is made of a three layers with high permeability material (μ_i = 40000, and μ_max = 450000) (Fig. C). It is equipped with a set of three axes Helmholtz coils capable to generate homogeneous fields in a sphere of 250 mm diameter (Fig. D). The rotation of the equipment is performed manually and the alignment is checked with lasers and theodolites. The chamber is also provided with a coil for demagnetisation and a mobile thermally isolated for the thermomagnetic signature measurements.

C) Magnetic shielded chamber.

D) Internal triaxial coil in Helmholtz configuration.

In addition, INTA has a Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) for the determination of the magnetic moment and magnetic properties of individual components (with DIP, SOIC, etc packages), as well as, material samples (Fig. E).

E) Vibrating Sample Magnetometer.

MICRO-MAG

Facility for the characterization of the magnetic signature and susceptibility measurements of small equipment (0,1 mm³ - 100 mm³).