A Thermal Analysis of Atmospheric Balloons Using Different Coating Materials

Abstract

Atmospheric balloons are the cheapest source utilized by scientists to investigate various research areas. Thermal analyses of atmospheric balloons is usually performed to attain the required thermal equilibrium in the shortest timeframe. In this paper, a mathematical model was developed that numerically solved material properties (i.e., ε (emissivity of balloon surface), αV (balloon absorptivity averaged over the visible and near infrared band), εIR (absorptivity averaged over infrared band), αIR (balloon absorptivity averaged over infrared band), etc.) as well as geometric properties (i.e., AC (cross-sectional area), AS (surface area), M (balloon mass), etc.) by incorporating these values in the heat balance equation. An optimized code was engendered in MATLAB, which simultaneously solved input parameters and delivered the required thermal equilibrium in the shortest timeframes. This may serve as a guide to new material generation.

Keywords

• atmospheric balloon
• transient thermal behavior
• optimization process