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FalconSat-2 Applications1
C1C Richard Lyon2
LtCol Jerry Sellers2
Craig Underwood3
2
USAF Academy Small Satellite Research Center
USAF Academy, CO
3
Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey,
Guildford, Surrey, UK
C02Richard.Lyon@usafa.edu
Jerry.Sellers@usafa.edu
C.Underwood@eim.surrey.ac.uk
Nodal Temperature Calculation Model or emissivity value for each node to calculate the external
heat transfer into each node in watts, designated as Qext.
The second main part of the overall thermal model is the
nodal temperature calculation portion. This part of the Fourier Conduction--This module calculates the heat
model actually conducts the finite difference analysis and transfer between nodes due to Fourier conduction. It
calculates the temperature of each node of the satellite iterates through each node in the satellite and calculates the
versus time for the entire orbit. The MatLab interface for heat transfer to or from every other node. The key equation
this portion of the model is shown in Figure 2b. in this subsystem, with “i” being the current node of
interest, is equation 1, with the subsystem performing this
The inputs to the nodal temperature calculation routine are summation for each of the nodes in the satellite:
the flux histories for the satellite calculated in the first part max nodes
of the thermal model as well as the lumped parameter Qcond (i ) k (i, j ) T ( j ) T (i)
definitions of the thermal nodes throughout the satellite and j 1
the conduction links between the nodes. These lumped (1)
parameters include the mass (m), specific heat capacity (c), Inputs are the temperature of each node and the conductivity
cross-sectional area (A), absorptivity (α), emissivity (ε), and between each node. The module outputs the heat transfer
thermal conductivity values (k). The output from the model into each node due to conduction in watts, designated as
is a temperature profile for each node in the satellite. Qcond.
The nodal temperature calculation model is broken down Black Body Radiation From Space--This module calculates
into five modules within MatLab. These modules are the black body radiation coming into each node from the
described here: background of space. Of course, heat is actually
transferring out of each node to space, so the outputs from
External Qin--This module calculates the external heat this subsystem will be negative. The heat transfer from each
transfer into each node due to insolation, Earth infrared, and node to space is calculated using the black body radiation
albedo. The inputs are the flux history matrices compiled in equation, with the background heat of space assumed to be
the previous model. The flux on each facet is then 4K.
multiplied by the appropriate surface area and absorptivity
Internal Power Dissipation--This module puts the internal The MatLab thermal model was further verified by
power dissipated at each node into the matrix form the modeling the FalconSat-2 Engineering Model configuration.
model requires. These internal power dissipations are an This model simulates the Thermal/Vacuum test of the
input to the overall thermal model. FalconSat-2 Engineering Model conducted at Kirtland AFB
in Spring 2001. The model uses a 25-node finite differential
Finite Difference Analysis--This module calculates the analysis model to simulate the thermal vacuum test. A
temperature of each node using finite difference analysis. description of the 25 nodes can be found in Table 2.
The key equation in this subsystem is equation 2: # Node Description # Node Description
T
Qext Qcond Qspc Q int dt 1 -Y Solar Array Panel 14 -X Module 2
(2)
m c 2
3
+X Facet
-X Facet
15
16
+Y Module 1
+Y Module 2
Once the Delta T at each node is calculated, the temperature 4 +Y Facet 17 -Y Module 1
at each node is calculated by adding the Delta T to the 5 -Y Facet 18 -Y Module 2
previous nodal temperature. 6 +Z Facet (MESA side) 19 Batteries
7 -Z Facet (Attachment side) 20 +X Inner Column
3. MODEL VERIFICATION 8 GAS Can Interface Ring 21 -X Inner Column
9 +X+Y MESA Sensor 22 +Y Inner Column
10 -X+Y MESA Sensor 23 -Y Inner Column
The MatLab thermal model was verified in two ways. First, 11 -X-Y MESA Sensor 24 S-Band Antenna
over the summer while it was being developed, it was used 12 +X Module 1 25 Whip Antenna
to model Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd.’s SNAP-1
nanosatellite. The results were then compared to a SNAP-1 Table 2 – FS-2 Engineering Model Nodal Definitions
thermal model created in Pascal by Dr. Craig Underwood of
SSTL. The model results match exactly. This is to be Two main assumptions were used in this model. First, the
expected because the same assumptions, including the aluminum structural facets were assumed to be a single
epoch COEs, epoch date/time, tracking mode, and SNAP-1 average thickness (the different thicknesses due to the actual
geometry, were used for both models. Figures 3a – 3b show orthogrid pattern were ignored). This average thickness was
the temperature vs. time of each node in SNAP-1 results determined from the mass of aluminum in each facet
from the MatLab model compared with Dr. Underwood’s divided by the density and surface area. The second
Pascal model. assumption was that the heat flux inputs used for the model
were the actual temperature measurements of the thermal
vacuum chamber. The temperature of the chamber was
assumed to be an infinite well at the average temperature of
the eight temperature measurements in the chamber.
0
Once it was verified to be accurate, the MatLab thermal
model was updated to the Qualification Model configuration
-20 of the satellite. The number of nodes in the satellite
increased to 28 nodes due to the increased number of
-40 subsystems contained in the Qual Model. The Qual Model
Actual nodal definitions can be found in Table 3.
Model
-60
0 500 1000 1500 Table 3 – FS-2 Qual Model Nodal Definitions
Time (min)
Figure 4b: Model and Actual temperature vs. time curve for
inside of structural panel #1
Transmitter Module Temperature (deg C)
60
RMS = 2.0786
50
40
30
Temperature (deg C)
20
10
-10
-20
-30 Actual
Model
-40
0 500 1000 1500
Time (min)
Figure 4c: Model and Actual temperature vs. time curve for
transmitter module box
applied, the satellite’s components behave well within the
# Node Description # Node Description
targeted temperature ranges.
1 +X Solar Array Panel (Spacequest) 15 +X Module 1
Baseline Solar Panel Temperatures (deg C)
2 -X Solar Array Panel (Spacequest) 16 -X Module 1 80
3 +Y Solar Array Panel (Cadet-built) 17 -X Module 2
70
4 -Y Solar Array Panel (Cadet-built) 18 +Y Module 1
5 +X Facet 19 +Y Module 2 60
6 -X Facet 20 -Y Module 1 50
7 +Y Facet 21 -Y Module 2
8 -Y Facet 22 Batteries 40
Temperature (deg C)
After running simulations using the thermo-optical 30
properties of several combinations of thermal tape, we
decided to use a combination of aluminum and Kapton 20
0.14 and an emissivity of 0.09, and the Kapton tape has an 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Time (min)
absorptivity of 0.39 and an emissivity of 0.63.
Figure 6b – Predicted outer facet thermal behavior with
We ran the thermal model with the thermal tape design thermal tape
implemented on the Qual Model structure. The results are 30
Module and Battery Temperatures (Deg C)
did not change greatly from the baseline design and vary in
22
temperature between –10ºC and +73ºC. Figure 6b shows
TX
the behavior of the exterior structural facets, which can be RX
20 OBC
seen to vary between –5ºC and +60ºC. Figure 6c shows the SIM
thermal behavior of the internal module boxes and battery, 18
MIB
PWR
whose temperature has increased from the baseline design, BATT
but still remains within the desired temperature range of 16
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
+5ºC to +30ºC. The modules vary in temperature between Time (min)
+17ºC and +30ºC. The batteries vary between +16ºC and
Figure 6c – Predicted module box and battery thermal
+28ºC. These results show that our thermal tape design will
behavior with thermal tape
maintain all components of the satellite within the desired
limits.
Solar Panel Temperatures (Deg C)
5. CONCLUSION
80
0 Side 1 (+Y) The thermal design process will continue as the FalconSat-2
Side 2 (+X)
-10 Side 3 (-Y)
program progresses. The next step will be the actual
Side 4 (-X) assembly and integration of the thermal tape when the Qual
-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Model is constructed this November. We will then conduct
Time (min)
the Thermal/Vacuum test for the completed Qual Model,
Figure 6a – Predicted solar panel thermal behavior with and see if the results agree with the predicted results from
thermal tape our model.