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ABSTRACT
A parametric study has been carried out on emissivities of the surfaces, shell thicknesses and materials of a satellite structure
in order to obtain useful information for satellite thermal engineering design. This is done through a three-dimensional finite
element transient heat transfer model on a simple satellite structure using the commercial software ANSYS. The satellite is
subjected to several heat loadings in an orbit of sun-tracking mode. Using actual empirically available data, a numerical model
is developed and the temperature distribution in the satellite structure predicted. The numerical results of the thermal analysis
are analyzed and discussed.
50 Journal - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Vol. 65, No. 3/4, September/December 2004)
TRANSIENT HEAT TRANSFER 7/12/05 11:52 AM Page 51
shows that the absolute lower and the temperature limits of its To obtain the exact temperature from analytical
structure using Al-6061-T4 are 100C and 100C respectively. considerations is generally not possible due to the complexity
This would in turn serve as a good temperature and material and nonlinear dependence of some of the parameters on
gauge for the present work. temperature. Thus, the practical approach is to seek answers
through numerical techniques [4]. A schematic of the
Table 1: Temperature ranges for Spartniks
components [3] numerical model setup is shown in Figure 2 with its input
values tabulated in Table 2 and Table 3.
Journal - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Vol. 65, No. 3/4, September/December 2004) 51
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temperatures, thus one can take advantage of this difference The numerical thermal model is the working tool in the
and condition a surface to have simultaneously a high development of a satellite thermal control system. It is used to
reflectivity in the solar spectrum and high emissivity in IR. The predict temperatures on a large scale, with most structures
property connected with this idea is solar absorptivity as, which and other components interacting with one another and with
is the fraction of unhindered solar energy that is absorbed by the surrounding environment. The thermal model is generally
a surface [4]; that is: considered a deliverable item and therefore, a standard format
should be prepared to make the model easy to interpret, run
Sa (unhindered) = as S cos (3) and modify. In this case, the commercial developed software
ANSYS 5.6 is used to evaluate the satellites temperature
where Sa (W/m2) is absorbed solar energy when the solar distribution.
vector (magnitude S) impinges at angle off the surface
normal. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Albedo, A (from the Latin albus, for whiteness) is heating Upon the application of assumed heat fluxes, the satellite has
from sunlight reflected off Earth. It can be estimated in those its temperature distribution as shown in Figure 4, where
regions with some accuracy as function of the suns elevation temperatures are in degrees Celsius. The application of various
and the satellites orbital parameters. It is usually considered to simulated loadings, coupled with the designed solar space
be in same spectrum as solar radiation and often quoted as a conditions reveal the temperature distribution pattern of the
fraction of the solar constant [4]; that is: satellite. It can be seen from Figure 4 that the temperature is
fairly evenly distributed right from the centre of the solar array
A=fS (4) panel to the solar box.
52 Journal - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Vol. 65, No. 3/4, September/December 2004)
TRANSIENT HEAT TRANSFER 7/12/05 11:52 AM Page 53
1 2 93 -
(b) 2 4 87 6.5
Satellites
3 Al_6061-T6 6 84 9.7
structure
4 8 82 11.8
5 10 80 14.0
(c)
1 1 93 -
Journal - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Vol. 65, No. 3/4, September/December 2004) 53
TRANSIENT HEAT TRANSFER 7/12/05 11:52 AM Page 54
NOMENCLATURE
c heat capacity J/kg K
r density, kg/m3
k thermal conductivity, W/m K
q heat flux, W/m2
emissivity
Stefan-Boltzmann constant, 5.67 x 10-8 W/m2 K4
T temperature, K
T sink temperature, K
ANNOUNCEMENT
IEM-MGS Seminar on
Geosynthetics in Civil
Engineering Projects
(Organised by IEM Sabah Branch, IEM Geotechnical
Engineering Technical Division and MGS)
54 Journal - The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Vol. 65, No. 3/4, September/December 2004)