Thermal Impact Analysis and Electric-Thermal Coupled Modeling of Photovoltaic/Battery Space Power System with Different Surface Coatings

Thermal performance has long been recognized as a critical attribute for space systems. Thermal control surface coating is a common method in passive thermal protection. Unfortunately, limited analyzing models and data on the influence of thermal control coatings' alpha/epsilon (absorptivity/emissivity) on the space power system have been published to date. To fill this gap, we proposed a multiphysics model that combined environmental temperature calculating and electrical performance analysis together for the satellite power system. In this paper, different coating materials are applied to the radiator surface and thermal insulation surface, respectively. Additionally, a new concept of energy storage, named energy storage voltage, is introduced. The results are analyzed and parametric fits with different formulas using ordinary least squares are conducted. Finally, the change rules are presented, which will prove particularly useful to the space industry, for example, in thermal designs and on-orbit battery studies.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a multiphysics model to investigate the influence of thermal control coatings' alpha/epsilon values on the satellite power system. Different coating materials are applied to the radiator surface and thermal insulation surface, and a new concept of energy storage voltage is introduced. The results provide valuable insights for thermal designs and on-orbit battery studies.