We explore the preliminary design of a space habitat thermally controlled using phase change materials (PCMs). The PCM is used to maintain a suitable, habitable temperature inside the habitat by isolating it from the external solar radiation. The system is studied numerically considering only diffusive heat transport (conduction), a scenario with practical application to microgravity or reduced gravity environments. The system dynamics are explored for a wide range of governing parameters, including the length of the PCM cell L, the thermo-optical properties—absorptivity (Formula presented.) and emissivity (Formula presented.) —at the external boundary of the habitat wall exposed to solar radiation, the eclipse (illumination) fraction (Formula presented.) ((Formula presented.)) of the solar cycle, and the PCM used. We find that the thermo-optical properties at the external radiated boundary, characterized by the absorptivity–emissivity ratio (Formula presented.), play a key role in the system response and largely define the optimal design of the habitat. This optimum balances the heat absorbed and released by the PCM during repeated illumination and eclipse cycles. © 2023 by the authors.
We explore the preliminary design of a space habitat thermally controlled using phase change materials (PCMs). The PCM is used to maintain a suitable, habitable temperature inside the habitat by isolating it from the external solar radiation. The system is studied numerically considering only diffusive heat transport (conduction), a scenario with practical application to microgravity or reduced gravity environments. The system dynamics are explored for a wide range of governing parameters, including the length of the PCM cell L, the thermo-optical properties—absorptivity (Formula presented.) and emissivity (Formula presented.) —at the external boundary of the habitat wall exposed to solar radiation, the eclipse (illumination) fraction (Formula presented.) ((Formula presented.)) of the solar cycle, and the PCM used. We find that the thermo-optical properties at the external radiated boundary, characterized by the absorptivity–emissivity ratio (Formula presented.), play a key role in the system response and largely define the optimal design of the habitat. This optimum balances the heat absorbed and released by the PCM during repeated illumination and eclipse cycles. © 2023 by the authors. Read More
Related posts:
Murine Skin Dosimetry Under Millimeter Wave Exposure
Comprehensive experimental assessment of an industrialized modular innovative active glazing and heat recovery system
Partially Coherent Cylindrical Vector Sources
Monitoring of a Living Wall System in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as a strategy to reduce the urban heat island
Investigation of Heat Transfer in Combined Infrared-Hot Air Drying: A Strategy for Evaluation in Potato Food Model
Real-Time Object Detection for Autonomous Solar Farm Inspection via UAVs