Virginia Tech
Thermal Analysis of the Detector in the Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI)
Abstract
dc:description.abstractEarth radiation budget instruments are devices designed to study global climate change. These instruments use telescopes embarked on low-earth-orbit satellites to measure Earth emitted and reflected solar radiation. Radiation is sensed as temperature changes caused by radiation absorbed during scans of the earth on a delicate gold-black coated detector. This work is part of a larger effort to develop an end-to-end dynamic electro-thermal model, based on first-principles, for the next generation of earth radiation budget instruments, the Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI). A primary objective of this effort is to develop a numerical model of the detector to be used on RBI. Specifically, the sensor model converts radiation arriving at the detector, collimated and focused through telescopes, into sensible heat; thereby producing a voltage. A mathematical model characterizing this sensor is developed. Using a MATLAB algorithm, an implicit finite-volume scheme is implemented to determine the model solution. Model parameters are tuned to replicate experimental data using a robust parameter estimation scheme. With these model parameters defined, the electro-thermal sensor model can be used, in conjunction with the remaining components of the end-to-end model, to provide insight for future interpretation of data produced by the RBI.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Mechanical Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Mechanical Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2018
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Pfab, Jonathan Francis
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Vick, Brian L.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Nguyen, Vinh
- Mahan, James R.
Subjects
dc:subject × 6Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:13907
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/82035