Abstract: For active thermal control loop systems with centralized and distributed radiator layouts, respectively, simulation models are developed. Based on the models, the difference of the heat dissipation potential between the two kinds of systems under normal and radiator loop failure working pattern is analyzed. According to the results, the heat dissipation potential of the active thermal control loop system with a centralized layout radiator structure is better than that of the active thermal control loop system with a distributed layout radiator structure, and the difference of the heat dissipation potential between the two systems increases as the number of failure radiator loops increases. For the loop systems constructed in this paper, the difference of the heat dissipation potential is about 7.4% for a normal working pattern, and the difference could reach 11% in the case of one radiator loop failure, and 31.5% in the case of failure of two radiator loops.