A MICRO-SATELLITE

THERMAL CONTROL
ANALYSIS
CANDIDATE: RENAN FELIPE OLIVEIRA ( )
TUTOR: SUN LIANG

OPENING THESIS PROPOSAL REPORT

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
2

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
3

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Personal Information
Renan Felipe Oliveira ( )
Hometown: Braslia, Brazil;
Age: 26 years old (January, 25th 1990);
Bachelor in Energy Engineering (5 years);
University of Braslia (UNB) Brazil;

Contacts:
Phone 13126536833
E-mail oliveira.renanfelipe@gmail.com
4

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
5

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Miniaturization Small Satellites

Miniaturization a reaction of the space Market.
ESA and NASA programs with focus on smaller satellites
Table 1 Attributes of small-satellite
groups.

Satellite Class

Mass (kg)

Bus linear
sizes (m)

Power
Averaged (W)

Mini

100-500

More than 1

Up to 100

Micro

10-100

0,5 1

Tens

Nano

Less than 10

Less than 0,2

Several

FASTSAT

BUAA-SAT

ELaNa: Educational Launch of Nanosatellites

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Subsystems

Technological challenges to attend subsystem criticalities;

i.

Low power generation;

ii.

Limited size;

iii. Payload criticalities.

On Board
Computer

Power Subsystem

Payload

Communication
Subsystem

Attitude Control
Subsystem
Thermal Control

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Thermal Control Subsystem

The purpose of the thermal control system is to maintain all satellite and
components within allowable temperature limits of all operating modes of
the satellite when exposed to the orbital thermal environments (Gilmore,
2002)
Passive: good selection of surface Active: Often consume power and
properties,
use
of
insulation
telemetry resources.
systems
and
heat
exchange
techniques control.

Multilayer Insulation

Heater

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Thermal Control Theoretical Background

Conduction;
Radiation;
Space Thermal Enviroment;
Direct Solar Radiation;
Albedo Reflected Solar Radiation
Earth IR;
Spacecraft position in orbit and how it
influence in thermal control;
Eclipse Period;
Beta Angle;

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
10

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Main Objective
The purpose of this work is the design and analyses of thermal
control subsystem of BUAA-SAT, a satellite from Beihang
University, and to ensure that the effect of the space
environment combined with onboard heat generation/dissipation
meets structural and devices requirements.

11

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Specific Objectives
I.

According to physical/thermal constraints and boundary conditions previous

collected, establish a geometric model of the spacecraft based on ANSYS software;

II.

Establish the Finite Element Model for the simulation and analyses of thermal
system in order to approximate the Geometric and the Mathematical model;

III. In order to improve the performance of thermal system, make adjustments and
modifications to the model aiming an optimization of thermal system design,
according to the results obtained in the last steps;
IV. Test phase should be held in order to provide results of the engineering model and
the behavior of this model into space environment simulation;
V.

In order to verify the experiment results and the performance of thermal design
system, a comparison between simulated results and the test results will be held;

VI. A final report shall be provided to specify all the results obtained.
12

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
13

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

I. Collecting data and establishing a Geometric Model.

The definition of the hardwares thermal properties and
the prediction of the temperatures experienced during
the orbit;
The identification of the major factors driving thermal
system design:
The

heat

dissipated

by

the

equipment on

board

the

spacecraft;
The distribution of thermal dissipation within the spacecraft;
The temperature requirements of the spacecraft components;
The configuration of the spacecraft: geometry, material,
mounting systems, etc.

The critical cases (hot case and cold case), radiative

heat transfer from the Sun and planet, and different
parts of the spacecraft by itself should be determined.
14

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

II and III. Establishment of the FE model and necessary

improvements
Iterations will be carried out using
analytical simulations;
ANSYS simulations will be held and
will provide the temperature and
heat fluxes results;
In this phase loop iterations will be
commonly seen, if the results show
as acceptable it will move forward
to the next steps.

15

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

IV and V. Test phase and correlation

It will carry out some engineering tests and the spacecraft verification and
correlation tests. The correlations tests will be held with the purpose of
match the simulations and the real situation experiments.

16

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

IV and V. Test phase and correlation

Thermal Cycle Test

Thermal Cycle test stands for put to test the satellite to

a number of cycles of hot and cold critical temperatures
in an ambient air or gaseous nitrogen environment.
This

serve

as

material defects.

an

environmental

stress

revealing

The convective heat transfer is

enhanced so that the cycling can be relatively rapid

[25].

An equivalent test is the thermal vacuum testing, which

the test object undergoes temperature cycles, since it
is a vacuum testing natural convection is eliminated,
this test represents real space conditions and realistic
functional tests are possible [25]. Due to the extreme

Thermal Vacuum Test Chamber

range of temperature is reached slowly the thermal

stress behavior is less important [5].
17

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

IV and V. Test phase and correlation

Thermal Balance Test
Thermal Balance test has as purposes: verify the thermal mathematical model, do the
correlation of the thermal analytic models and simulations, determine effectiveness
conductivity of the MLI in situ.

Thermal Space Test Chamber

18

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Methodology Summary

Phase
1

Preliminary
Requirement
s Review

Phase
2

Design
Definition

Hot Case &

Cold Case
(Worst
Cases)

Numerical
Simulations
(ANSYS)

Configuratio
n of the
MicroSatellite

Critical
Design
Review

Phase
3

Engineering
Model

Ground Tests

Phase
4

Critical
Analysis

Correlation

19

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Flowchart design

20

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
21

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Expected Results
As results, it is expected that in the end of this work to delivery to Beihang
University a report, which will contain:
The Thermal modeling of the BUAA-SAT;
The geometric model in order to provide the simulation of the thermal
scheme;
Design and optimization of engineering models thermal system;
Engineering models test;
Analysis thermal systems tests results.

22

Schedule

Candidate Background
Introduction
Objectives
Methodology
Expected Results
Conclusion
23

Candidate
Background

Introduction

Objectives

Methodology

Expected Results

Conclusion

Conclusion
Innovative or originality of this work is in the correlation of the simulations
and ground tests.
Engineering valuable point: Predict the feasiblity of thermal control system
in orbit and the improvement of the system.
Undoubtedly, the thermal control is a keypoint for the surviving of a small
satellite, and challenges will be faced during the development of this work.

24


Thank You !

25