Numerical research on the thermal performance of high altitude scientific balloons

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 114; pp. 51 - 57
• Main Authors: Dai, Qiumin, Xing, Daoming, Fang, Xiande, Zhao, Yingjie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 05.03.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Ascent; Balloons; Computer simulation; Heat transfer; High altitude; High altitude balloons; High altitude scientific balloon; Infrared radiation; Infrared transmissivity; Internal infrared heat transfer; Mathematical models; Numerical analysis; Simulation; Studies; Thermal analysis; Thermal performance; Transmissivity; Internal infrared heat transfer; High altitude scientific balloon; Thermal performance; Infrared transmissivity
• ISSN: 1359-4311; 1873-5606
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.11.193

•A model is presented to evaluate the IR radiation between translucent surfaces.•Comprehensive ascent and thermal models of balloons are established.•The effect of IR transmissivity on film temperature distribution is unneglectable.•Atmospheric IR radiation is the primary thermal factor of balloons at night.•Solar radiation is the primary thermal factor of balloons during the day. Internal infrared (IR) radiation is an important factor that affects the thermal performance of high altitude balloons. The internal IR radiation is commonly neglected or treated as the IR radiation between opaque gray bodies. In this paper, a mathematical model which considers the IR transmissivity of the film is proposed to estimate the internal IR radiation. Comprehensive ascent and thermal models for high altitude scientific balloons are established. Based on the models, thermal characteristics of a NASA super pressure balloon are simulated. The effects of film IR property on the thermal behaviors of the balloon are discussed in detail. The results are helpful for the design and operation of high altitude scientific balloons.