Space is devoid of atmosphere and hence radiation is the only means to dissipate waste heat. Extended surfaces, or fins, are employed to augment the area available for radiating heat from space vehicles. The heat transfer in such situations is controlled by the interaction between heat conduction within the fin material and radiation at the fin surface. Attempts are made to obtain physical insight and at the same time a practical approach to the design of a tubular space radiator, with fins arranged equiangularly around a tube. A two-dimensional finite-difference method of analysis is employed to elicit information pertaining to the thermal performance characteristics of a tubular space radiator with attached fins. The potential importance of the base surface interaction is brought out. The analysis takes into account the variation of base temperature, which has not been considered so far. A wide range of thermal and geometric parameters that are normally employed in the design of a tubular radiator has been considered. The existence of an optimum fin height and its dependence on other parameters have been explored. A new dimensionless heat dissipation parameter has been defined, and correlations that would aid the designer are presented.
Optimum finned tubular space radiator
Optimaler Rippenrohrradiator für den Weltraum
Heat Transfer Engineering ; 18 , 4 ; 69-87
1997
19 Seiten, 20 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 22 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch