Small Satellite Operational Phase Thermal Analysis and Design: A Comparative Study

This paper is about the modeling and design of the passive thermal control system for the European Student Earth Orbiter (ESEO) satellite. A detailed thermal model was created in Thermal Desktop software. The model was running for the operative phase which includes cycles of 28 orbits. During these 28 orbits, there are several modes (10 modes). Each mode has a specific duration, attitude (Sun-nadir), and certain internal heat dissipation. The design of the passive thermal control system was based on controlling the conductive and radiative heat exchange between the internal components and the mounting panels, between panels themselves, and controlling external radiation exchange to achieve the desired components temperature ranges. The temperature results from simulations were presented to show the expected component temperatures and to demonstrate that the passive thermal control system met the requirements of the temperature limits. The final passive thermal control design shows that the satellite components temperatures were always maintained within their required limits during the operational phase

Determination of the Radiation Exchange Factor in the Bundle of Steel Round Bars

A method to obtain a radiation exchange factor FR in the bundle of steel round bars is presented. This parameter is required for determination of the radiative thermal conductivity krd, which is one of the basic thermal properties of the bar bundles. In the presented approach, the analyzed parameter is calculated indirectly. The initial point for calculations is the geometric model of the medium defined as a unit cell. Then, for the elements present in this cell, the thermal resistance of both conduction and radiation is determined. The radiation resistance is calculated from the radiosity balance of the surfaces enclosing the analyzed system. On this basis, the radiation thermal conductivity krd is calculated. Next, taking into account the bar diameter, the value of parameter FR is also determined. The analysis is performed at the process temperature range of 200 to 800 °C for three bar diameters: 10, 20 and 30 mm, and for the three porosities of the bundle. Different emissivity of bars in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 was also taken into account. Finally, a relationship that allows calculating the FR factor correlated with the emissivity of the bars and the bundle porosity was established. The krd obtained from the methodology presented and compared with the values calculated directly do not exceed 9%; however, after averaging over the entire temperature range of the process, the difference does not exceed 0.2%.

Computer Simulation of Heat Transfer in Alumina and Cement Rotary Kilns

The paper presents computer simulation of heat transfer in alumina and cement rotary kilns. The model incorporates radiation exchange among solids, wall and gas, convective heat transfer from the gas to the wall and the solids, contact heat transfer between the covered wall and the solids, and heat loss to the surroundings as well as chemical reactions. The mass and energy balances of gas and solids have been performed in each axial segment of the kilns. The energy equation for the wall is solved numerically by the finite-difference method. The dust entrainment in the gas is also accounted for. The solution marches from the solids inlet to the solids outlet. The kiln length predicted by the present model of the alumina kiln is 77.5 m as compared to 80 m of the actual kiln of Manitius et al. (1974, Manitius, A., Kurcyusz, E., and Kawecki, W., “Mathematical Model of an Aluminium Oxide Rotary Kiln,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., 13 (2), pp. 132-142). In the second part, heat transfer in a dry process cement rotary kiln is modelled. The melting of the solids and coating formation on the inner wall of the kiln are also taken into account. A detailed parametric study lent a good physical insight into axial solids and gas temperature distributions, and axial variation of chemical composition of the products in both the kilns. The effect of kiln rotational speed on the cement kiln wall temperature distribution is also reported.

Numerical Study of Combined Surface Radiation and Natural Convection in Vertical Conical Annular Enclosure

The present study investigates the combined free convection and surface radiation in a conical annular cylinder filled with air (Pr=0.71). The steady-state continuity, Navier–Stokes and energy equations were carried out by the finite volume method, and the Discrete Ordinates Method (DOM) was used to solve the radiative heat transfer equation (RTE). The boundary conditions are such that the inner and the outer radius of cone are maintained at hot (Th) and cold (Tc) isothermal temperature. The horizontal upper and lower walls are assumed to be isolated. Concerning the radiation exchange, we consider that the fluid (air) is transparent, so only the solid surfaces contribute to the radiation exchange and assumed to be diffuse-gray. The computations are performed for Rayleigh number (Ra) in the range 103≤Ra≤106 , the surface emissivity (ε) 0≤ε≤1 and the cone angle () 63o, 76o, 80o and 84o. The key parameters for this analysis are considered as Rayleigh number (Ra), surface emissivity (ε) and the cone angle (). Results are presented in terms of isotherms, streamlines and the average Nusselt numbers.

Radiation Exchange at Greenhouse Tilted Surfaces under All-Sky Conditions

Greenhouses generally exhibit a greater degree of thermal radiation interaction with the surroundings than other buildings. A number of greenhouse thermal environment analyses have handled the thermal radiation exchange in different ways. Thermal radiation exchange at greenhouse surfaces is of great interest for energy balance. It dominates the heat transfer mechanisms especially between the cover material surface and the surrounding atmosphere. At these surfaces, the usual factors of interest are local temperatures and energy fluxes. The greenhouse surfaces are inclined and oriented in various ways and thus can influence the radiation exchange. The scope of this work is determination of the thermal radiation exchange models as well as effects of surface inclination and orientation on the radiation exchange between greenhouse surfaces and sky. Apart from the surface design and the thermal properties of the cover, the key meteorological parameters influencing longwave and shortwave radiation models were considered in detail. For the purpose of evaluating surface inclination and orientation effects, four identical thermal boxes were developed to simulate the roof and wall greenhouse surfaces. The surface temperatures and atmospheric parameters were noted under all-sky conditions (clear-sky and overcast). Differences in terms of surface-to-air temperature differences at the exposed roof and wall surfaces as influenced by surface inclination and orientation are discussed in this work. Overall, the findings of this work form a basis for decisions on greenhouse design improvements and climate control interventions in the horticultural industry.

Membrane-assisted radiant cooling for expanding thermal comfort zones globally without air conditioning

We present results of a radiant cooling system that made the hot and humid tropical climate of Singapore feel cool and comfortable. Thermal radiation exchange between occupants and surfaces in the built environment can augment thermal comfort. The lack of widespread commercial adoption of radiant-cooling technologies is due to two widely held views: 1) The low temperature required for radiant cooling in humid environments will form condensation; and 2) cold surfaces will still cool adjacent air via convection, limiting overall radiant-cooling effectiveness. This work directly challenges these views and provides proof-of-concept solutions examined for a transient thermal-comfort scenario. We constructed a demonstrative outdoor radiant-cooling pavilion in Singapore that used an infrared-transparent, low-density polyethylene membrane to provide radiant cooling at temperatures below the dew point. Test subjects who experienced the pavilion (n= 37) reported a “satisfactory” thermal sensation 79% of the time, despite experiencing 29.6 ± 0.9 °C air at 66.5 ± 5% relative humidity and with low air movement of 0.26 ± 0.18 m⋅s−1. Comfort was achieved with a coincident mean radiant temperature of 23.9 ± 0.8 °C, requiring a chilled water-supply temperature of 17.0 ± 1.8 °C. The pavilion operated successfully without any observed condensation on exposed surfaces, despite an observed dew-point temperature of 23.7 ± 0.7 °C. The coldest conditions observed without condensation used a chilled water-supply temperature 12.7 °C below the dew point, which resulted in a mean radiant temperature 3.6 °C below the dew point.