Estimating payload internal temperatures and radiator size for multimegawatt space platforms
A conceptual space platform consists of a payload, a power conditioning unit (PCU), and two radiators: the main radiator and a secondary radiator. A computer program was written to determine the required size of the two radiators and the temperatures of the PCU and payload for a given platform power level. An iterative approach is necessary because the required size of the main radiator depends on the size of the secondary radiator and vice versa. Also, the temperatures of the payload and PCU depend on the size of the radiators. The program user can subdivide the two radiators into any number of nodes to increase the accuracy of the radiant heat transfer solution. The use of more nodes also allows better prediction of the nonlinear temperature drop that occurs across the radiators as the working fluid deposits the platform's waste heat in the radiator. View factor expressions are automatically calculated for different choices of the number of nodes. The user can also select different separation distances between the various platform structures. A model is included to couple the radiant and conduction heat transfer that occurs between the payload and its meteoroid shell and between the PCU and its shell. Also, the program allows the use of a refrigerator to cool the payload. If a refrigerator is used, the program determines the amount of additional thermal power needed to run the refrigerator. The results of parametric calculations are included to demonstrate the use of the program.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6112240
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-87-1216; ON: DE88000244
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Modular Countermine Payload for Small Robots
Solid-state optical refrigerator for cryogenic cooling of payloads
Related Subjects
990000* -- General & Miscellaneous
COMPUTER CODES
COOLING
COOLING SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
HEAT
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER CONDITIONING CIRCUITS
POWER SUPPLIES
RADIANT HEAT TRANSFER
RADIATORS
REFRIGERATION
SPACE VEHICLES
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
VEHICLES
WASTE HEAT
WASTES