Innovative Ray Tracing Algorithms for Space Thermal Analysis: From rendering to space thermal applications - Softcover

Vueghs, Pierre

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3659115800 ISBN 13: 9783659115806

Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, 2012

Synopsis

In order to design the thermal control system of a spacecraft (satellite, space probe or manned vehicle), thermal engineer uses dedicated software. As the radiative component may play a predominant role, a ray tracing algorithm is used to compute view factors and radiative exchanges between surfaces of finite dimensions, assumed isothermal. External flows are also evaluated by ray tracing while the conductive couplings are usually encoded manually by the user. As ray tracing is based on a random process, the achieved accuracy is determined by the number of traced rays. In general, the choice of the number of rays is left at the discretion of the engineer, which can lead to errors. Another disadvantage of ray tracing is its low convergence. An acceleration method of ray tracing is necessary. An order of magnitude improvement in performance over existing Monte Carlo ray tracing techniques used for space thermal analysis, a statistical accuracy control to lead the thermal engineer during ray tracing, a simple approach combining conduction and radiation, geometry and finite elements, these are parts of the objectives reached in this thesis.

About this title

About the Author

After studying engineering at National School of Aeronautics and Space (Supaero), Pierre Vueghs obtained a degree in Physical Engineering at the University of Liège. Research fellow at the Belgian Fund for Scientific Research, he performed a thesis with European Space Agency on thermal analysis. Now, he works as Doctor Engineer at LMS-Samtech.

Edition details

• Publisher: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3659115800
• ISBN 13: 9783659115806
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 284