New Concept of Space Radiator with Variable Emittance

作者：Vlassov Valeri V; de Sousa Fabiano Luis; Cuco Ana Paula C; Silva Neto Antonio J

来源：Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 2010, 32(4): 400-408.

DOI：10.1590/S1678-58782010000400001

• space radiator
• variable emittance coating
• optimal design
• mathematical model
• Generalized Extremal Optimization

A new concept of space radiator of variable emittance for satellite thermal control is presented. The radiator is composed of two stages which exchange heat through radiation between finned surfaces covered with variable emittance coatings, whose emissivity is increased with temperature. Under cold conditions the radiative heat coupling between the stages is minimal, preventing the equipment subcooling, while in hot conditions the heat exchange is increased. A steady-state mathematical model was developed and numerically coupled to an optimization algorithm, and a design optimization procedure was performed. Two optimization criteria were employed: minimization of the radiator mass and the power consumption of heater under cold conditions. The Generalized Extremal Optimization algorithm was used as the optimization tool. The design was then modeled in detail using the SINDA/Fluint package considering orbital conditions of the EQUARS satellite. The performance of the radiator concept proposed here was also compared to a conventional design, for the same operational conditions. It is envisioned that the utilization of such radiators in micro-satellites will lead to considerable electric power savings for safe heaters and may contribute to a longer satellite life. In the design trade-off, the cost for this saving is additional radiator mass and volume.

• 出版日期2010-12