Heater Control Electronics
Distributed Heater Zone Controller System
The Distributed Heater Zone Controller System consists of electronic assemblies that autonomously regulate heater power allocation across thermal zones using radiation-hardened microcontrollers, solid-state relays, and Pt100 RTD sensors. Solid-state relays eliminate mechanical contact wear, while PID control loops hold zone temperatures within tight deadbands. In the power-constrained lunar night, priority-based allocation routes energy to critical zones first, coordinating loads to prevent heater runaway from overheating equipment or wasting vital power. To ensure 100-year reliable operation, the architecture incorporates redundant controller paths for critical zones alongside watchdog timers that prevent software faults from causing thermal runaway.
Electronics controlling heater zones with thermostat logic and power switching
Purpose
Autonomously manage heater power allocation across all thermal zones
Context
Child of L2-TCS-HTR in the Active Thermal Control System
Principles
- ▸Solid-state relays switch heater power without mechanical contact wear
- ▸PID control loops maintain zone temperatures within tight deadbands
- ▸Priority-based power allocation ensures critical zones heated first when power-limited
- ▸Watchdog timers prevent heater runaway (overheating) from software faults
Typical implementations
- ▸ISS heater controller assemblies
- ▸Spacecraft autonomous thermal management heritage
- ▸Industrial zone heater controllers
Lunar considerations
- ▸Must coordinate with power management for heater load scheduling
- ▸Heater runaway could overheat equipment or waste power critically during night
- ▸100-year reliable operation requires redundant controller paths for critical zones
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Electronics controlling heater zones with thermostat logic and power switching |
Physical
| materials | Rad-hard microcontroller, Solid-state relays, Pt100 RTD sensors |
Interfaces
Provides
- Coordinated heater zone control
Requires
- Temperature setpoints and power allocation from thermal manager
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Heater Control Electronics" (L3-TCS-HTR-CTRL). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-TCS-HTR-CTRL
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.