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by
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
AT THE
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
FEBRUARY 2008
John E. Keesee
Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Thesis Supervisor
Accepted by:
John H. Lienhard V
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Chairman, Undergraduate Thesis Committee
OF TEOHNOLOGY
ARCHIVES
MAR 0 4 2008
LIBRARIES
A Small Satellite Preliminary Thermal Control and Heat Shield Analysis
by
ABSTRACT
As part of a student owned small satellite project, a preliminary thermal control and heat
shield analysis was developed to verify acceptable performance requirements for the
system. For the thermal control section, the analysis was focused on the Bus module of
the satellite. It measured the effects of the Sun and Eclipse periods at low earth orbit
(LEO), accounted key design and subsystems interaction considerations and indicated
some of the structural parameters available for its success. As for the heat shield section,
calculations were made to quantify the magnitude of the heat flux going into the payload
capsule.
The thermal control analysis was implemented to determine if the radiator area and
insulation from the aluminum honeycomb structure were sufficient to maintain the
electronic components at proper operating temperatures during the mission. Materials
such as insulating coating paints and mechanisms such as heaters were researched and
considered as additional thermal protection barriers. Thermal subsystems interfaces, i.e.
Bus-Return Vehicle Interface, were also analyzed.
Models for the incoming heat across the Ablator heat shield were used to determine
values for transient and steady-state heating and cooling scenarios. These provided
indications of the incoming and outgoing heat transfers into and out of the payload
module. With the use of thermal resistance models, values for the heat transfers were
obtained.
This study interpreted the thermal effects of orbiting Earth at LEO for the Bus module of
a small satellite. It also measured the effectiveness of the heat shield on preventing
incoming heat transfers into the payload module. From proper approximations, realistic
results were obtained for both cases. Though no in depth analysis was performed, actual
values obtained for the heating effects provided a valid scope of the overall effects on the
system.
AD
• Radiaton
In Solar
Heating
Conduct
- Radiaton
Albedo &
Earth IR heating Radiaton
The Thermal Control design is preliminary, and no detailed nodal analyses have been
computed. Preliminary models indicate that this control system will function according to
requirements.
1.1.3.1.1 RADIATORS
Radiators can be place at three locations in the BUS: Top Face, Side Panels and the
Bottom Face. Table 3 shows the locations with their respective radiator's area.
Currently the faces are to be made out of an Aluminum 7075-T6 Alloy Honeycomb. This
type of material offers a core thermal conductivity ranging from 1W/m-K (lighter core) to
5 W/m-K (heavier core). The dissipation of heat under this honeycomb settings could
present an issue with the overall temperature of the inside of the BUS module since
preliminary conduction analysis showed that the inside face was about the same as the
outside, thus as same as the radiator side. It will get cold inside and proper insulation
should be included.
Table 3. BUS Radiator Arealo
I UIr-
BOTTOM 1.08
SIDE PANELS 1.5438
TOTAL: 2.776
200 K
7
220 K
240 K
)I
260 K
280 K
2i
Radiator 300 K
Area
- - / •
0 ..... f
300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800
Heat (W)
-1ý
The heat shield to be used for the satellite is provided by Applied Research
Associates, Inc. We will be using an SRAM-20 Ablator with a thickness variance from
around 7 mm to 25 mm along the curved path of it. This Ablator material has a very low
The approach here taken was to model the payload bucket as simply as
possible, taking the assumptions necessary to deliver a sound but straightforward
analysis. Different approaches were taken at the time of performing the analysis in order
to obtain the closest approximation, these are further explained below. For the upcoming
indications it will be good to provide certain figures and tables indicating some of the
measurements taken. Let's begin with a profile look of the heat shield as shown in figure
3 and an overall payload capsule drawing in figure 4.
$T~P~
72
_'_j
I --•.~l.,~V OUODE
The following table provides some reference values for areas and dimensions that will
be regularly referred to in the analysis.
Table 4. Analysis Parameters
14 Payload Module takes into account the shape of the structure infigure 5.
plate analysis (see next section) because in part of the model. These were reasonable
results-calculations were done correctly- but it was decided to not use this approach to
the analysis, in the hopes of creating a more accurate model-considering a magnitude
area closer to the actual payload bucket.
(b)
(a')
Figure 6. Cylindrical Model (a)versus Flat Plate Model (b). (Same top area for both)
is He also provided information on the thermal conductive of the ablator, refer to appendix 4 for
these.
Lastly, a zero degree sun incidence angle was used in the calculations to provide for a
maximum/worst case scenario.
1.2.2 RESULTS
A steady state analysis was performed as well as a transient analysis. The steady state
used a thermal resistances analysis while the transient was modeled as a honeycomb
panel with similar thermal properties on both ends as well as a total thermal conductivity
equaling that of the Ablator.
For the steady state case, a thermal circuit conductive analysis was developed and
calculated.The Tsurface K and the Tinside refer to the heat shield's outer and inner faces.
Figure 4 illustrate the thermal circuit in use.
This steady state analysis takes into account a layer of MLI (Multilayered
Insulation) and a layer of Aluminum covering the payload's bucket. The payload bucket
is to be maintaining at a temperature of 295.15 0 K (22 0 C). Moreover, the MLI thermal
properties were that of Kapton materials which are regularly used for MLI applications. 16
The temperatures at the surface and inside 17 are unknown, though we know the
following18 :
radiated =EA
Qradatd surface T surface
[0.031
Therefore we can set the following equation and iterate for the value of the Tsurface.
This iteration leads to Tsurface value of 305.5 K and a Tinside value of 303.7 K.
The following table illustrates the values obtained for the different heat energy interaction
from the steady state heat-up period results.
I ----- ,, I.-.
Energy Radiated 466.0843
Energy Conducted 2.097
From the energy conducted we get a heat flux across the heat shield of 3.48 W/m 2 when
you divide the energy conducted by the cross sectional area.
Using the same procedures for the cool down period, this time considering the Earth IR
as the absorbed incoming energy instead of the sun, the iteration Tsurface was 229.95 K
while the Tinside came out to be 240.13 K. The heat energy values for this period then
became:
Table 6. Steady State Cool Down Period Results
This energy is being conducted outwards since the inside of the heat shield is warmer
than the outside. The value for this heat flux is 21.14 W/m 2.
1.2.2.2 Transient
Face 1 a 1,i 1
Mc 1
K t (T_1-T_2)
CL-- --
Mc 2
Face 2
E 2oT 2 ^4
This approach used a series of equations 20 to simplify the calculations, which were used
to generate Matlab codes. The results of these programs are presented below.
By taking the linearized equations 21 for the two sides of figure 5 and plotting the
solution to this system, the following graphs were obtained.
"~ . . . . i
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Time (s)
/LMI, i
I I
I I
-Y
.%.-.
240
- 220
2n0L• J1 .-L - - I .. -
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
lime (s)
350
300-
250
These results are calculated from an initial temperature of 203 K for the outside
of the heat shield. This initial temperature was an assumed temperature for the satellite
coming out of the shade22
For this heat up period, steady state is reached in about 15 minutes 23 while
showing a Tsuface of around 346.5 K and a Tinside of 262.5 K.
B. 2 nd Orbit Heat Up
Using the Tsuface from the steady state heat up iteration, 229.95 K, as the initial
temperature for the cool down analysis the following result was obtained.
22 This temperature value isthe one used in Karam's example. See footnote 19.
23 On average the satellite will spent about 2300 seconds (-40 minutes) inthe shade per orbit.
Heat Up Second Time
I I
50
I '
240k
220 "
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Time (s)
053
- 300-
250
200 J
The outside surface temperature reaches steady state a little faster than on the
previous results but it tends to the same temperature value around 350 K.
This is very reasonable since once at a higher temperature it takes less to
heat up.
If we consider the Tsurface from the transient analysis and plugged it back to the original
thermal circuit model we get a heat flux conduction transfer of 15.60 W/m 2 . This is
obtained by solving equation 0.04 from a previous section.
1.2.3 CONCLUSION
From my analysis, there will be a small amount of heat going through the heat
shield. It should be clear that this analysis was preliminary, thus further conclusions
should not be reached solely on the result of these calculations. Regardless, this
analysis served to illustrate the current doubts about the heat shield performance and
capability of providing the mice in the payload with a suitable living environment.
Note that the difference in steady state temperatures obtained from the Steady
State analysis and the Transient analysis is due to the approach for each particular case
(honeycomb for the steady state and flate plate for the transient). Though in reality both
analysis should reach similar results.
In the Steady State calculations, the analysis considers the MLI and the
Aluminum sheet covering the payload bucket as well as the temperature inside the
payload bucket. However, the Transient method only accounts for the actual shield and
its thermal properties. It should be mentioned that the Transient result is a general
solution to the linearized equations, thus it is an approximation and the values for the
temperatures can be slightly different to the actual values.
The analysis displays the difference in the heating and cooling down periods as
well as the magnitudes and direction of the heat fluxes. Most of the concern should be
focus during the sun incidence period since it is here where the analysis shows a heat
flux going across heat shield.
To cover concerns related to the Ginger Snaps2 4 initiative, the different values in
absorptivities from the different paints can provide significant changes to the performed
analysis. This analysis assumed the use of the smallest thickness value for the heat
shield, so increasing this thickness and providing greater insulation for the MLI by adding
more kapton sheets will take care of the issues established by the variances in
absorptivities. The results of changes in absorptivities can be easily obtained by iterating
for new temperatures with the new absorptivity values and comparing them to the
allowable or acceptable ranges of incoming heat fluxes.
24 Ynis.org initiative
2 REFERENCES
Larson W.J., Wertz J.R. "SPACE MISSION ANAL YSIS AND DESIGN"'
Spacecrafts Subsystems: Thermal. 11.5 Third Edition 1999.
NANMAC. Thermocouples.
http://nanmac.com/handbook/imagebank.htm
R,
p=arcsim i -For Albedo Effect factor calculations
Incaming Sun
Q~w= CGs*AT4 **
Incoming Earth IR
QG =Gr*A91 *
Qm.&=G,*ABsa
*a*K.tsrn (p)
II. External Input on side Panels
2
G,= 1418 W/nm-Solar Flux Average around Earth
R
p = arcsin -For Albedo Effect factor calculations
J+R,
QE=Gi*A*ascos(q)
In general,
Qtotal
Aradiator =
where,
For Lightband:
Thickness t =. 1072 m
Heat Transfer from the Payload to the BUS Through the Lightband
kA
We know that:
Qcs= 70 W
Tbu,,=287.547 K (14.424C)
V. Heat Shield Analysis
Constants
Variables
a=.55 -Absorptivity of Ablator
!3=.7-() Factor
k,,= .0204 W / m* K -Thermal Conductivity of Multi Layer Insulation based of Kapton properties
Qraeaat='EaAsurface NfCu#e
[0.03]
Thermal Circuit with Heat Flux going through equal to q=q .,,a
T -T
=-f•,
Qco.da.ed=G,aAcrS, etEr AffT T -T bct [0.05]
Knowing the Thermal Properties and dimensions for each resistive material and Tb K
=295.15 (22°C)
dT
Mcy =Q-KT-A CrT 4
a [1.011
I1.021
DimensionlessForm Parameters
T ArrT
A3 Q
To
4-
It-A rZaTe
1..03-1.05
Mc
dT 7 4 4 [1.061
dO
T(O+')= 1.0
[1.071
4q 33=n
=()=hi ( 1)s+:2 arctanT- arctan ij [1.031
(q- T)(q +1)
SatisfiestheFinalSteady - State Condition: T = j7
SMc
d [1.1
kAh dt =q-EYT'-K,(T
q) 1 -T 2z) [1.11]
on Linearization,
•A dt1 = q + 3
i 1 T ,-(4cT +K,)TT+KT [I.13]
d T dT
t 2 +P= +QT2 =RR [1.15]
-]2K,+4(
P=[A +,)ar T] [1.16]
dd +P .dt + QA = 4(q
4(q ..2 .. ) a T"
[1.19]
dt- dt MC
A4
with A(o)EA [1.201
A=C1 le t +C 2 e" + D
[1.211]
where D,
qC 2 -q 2 EI
(c 1+cý2))K,+4 ccE2aT. [1.22]
p2 + p + Q=O [1.23]1
m,n=-5[-P±:(P2-4Q)]
[1.24]
C1 and C 2 aredetermined from the initialconditions:
C= na-b
CI - ---
n-m [1.25]
C -ma
b2 [1.2,6
n -m
where a = A -D
[1.27]
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Angle (Radians)
32
Table 7. External Heat Input Comparison
E
M
c'v
a,
CU
I
Figure 14. Payload/Heat Shield Dimensions in centimeters
I··_·
S SOLID EDGE
115L.·