ASSIGMENT B: EXERCISE

COURSE: SPACE MISSION TECHNOLOGY

STUD
ENT:
DIEGO BARRIENTOS

DATE:
THUESDAY 08 OF SEPTEMBER, 2023
To resolve this exercise, I am going to start the assignment by listing the different
assumptions necessary to characterize and simplify the problem:

1. Metal Plate: We consider an exposed area of all objects to be inspected of a known

value of 1 m^2.

2. Perfect Absorber and Emitter: We assume that all objects are a perfect absorber
and emitter of radiation, meaning it absorbs all incoming solar radiation and emits
radiation according to the Stefan-Boltzmann law.

3. Constant Solar Radiation: The solar radiation intensity is assumed to be constant

throughout the day, and there is no variation due to angle or time, simplifying the
calculation as it ignores the time.

4. Uniform Temperature Distribution: It is assumed that the temperature of the

objects is uniform across its surface.

5. No Wind or Forced Convection: Wind or forced convection effects are not

considered, simplifying the heat transfer analysis to only account for natural
convection and radiation. This is only considered in the earth due to the lack of
convection in space (only radiation there).

6. No Phase Changes: We assume that the metal remains in a solid state and does not
undergo any phase changes (e.g., melting) due to the temperature.

Next, I will detail the formulas to be used for both the case of calculations in space and the
case on Earth:

a) Calculating the steady state in space:

In space, the net radiative heat transfer can be determined using the Stefan-Boltzmann law,
as I mentioned earlier. To find the net radiative heat transfer, you need to account for the
heat absorbed from the Sun and the heat radiated away from the metal. Here's how you can
calculate it:

1. Heat Absorbed from the Sun (Solar Radiation): The heat absorbed from the Sun
depends on the solar radiation intensity (S), the surface area of the metal (A), and its
absorptivity (α).
 Q|¿|=S∗ A∗α ¿

 Qabsorbed is the rate of heat absorbed (in watts).

 α is the absorptivity of the metal (a dimensionless value between 0 and 1).

2. Heat Radiated Away (Stefan-Boltzmann Law): The heat radiated away from the
metal depends on the temperature of the object (T), the surface area (A), and the
Stefan-Boltzmann constant (σ).

4
Qemmited =σ∗A∗T

 Qemitted is the rate of heat radiated (in watts).

 σ is the Stefan-Boltzmann constant (5.67×10^−8).

3. Net Radiative Heat Transfer (Steady State): At steady state, the net radiative heat
transfer is zero, meaning the heat absorbed equals the heat emitted:

Qabsorbed=Qemitted

Combining the equations for absorbed and emitted heat, and re arranging for temperature:

α∗S 14
T =( )
σ

This formula gives the steady-state temperature of the metal exposed to sunlight in space,
taking into account the absorption of solar radiation and the radiative heat transfer.

b) Calculating the steady state in the earth:

To calculate The temperature of an object on Earth, I will consider that this object is
exposed to both convection with the surrounding air and radiation from the sun. This
equation takes into account the heat gained from solar radiation and the heat lost through
convection with the surrounding air.

Energy balance equation:

T air∗Q sun Qconv

T obj = +
C C

In this case, Q_sun is the heat gained from radiation, which is:

Qsun =α∗ε∗(1−albedo)

 albedo is the albedo of the object's surface (a value between 0 and 1, indicating the
reflectivity of the surface; 0 for a perfect absorber and 1 for a perfect reflector).

And for the convection heat we have:

Q air =h∗A∗(T air −T )

And C being:

C is the heat capacity of the object (in J/(kg·K)). These values were taken from online
bibliography I added at the end.

With this equation is possible to calculate the value of the different objects inside the
atmosphere of the earth.

Following that, I will present a table indicating all the necessary values, which were
extracted from various sources, as listed at the end of the assignment, and these values will
be used to calculate the results.
 Emissiv Solar Solar Convecti Stefan Temperat Albe Heat
ity (ε) radiati radiation ve heat Boltzma ure on do capaci
on in on earth transfer nn earth numb ty in
space (Gronin coefficie constant er J/(kg*
(earth gen in a nt (σ ¿ k)
orbit) sunny
day)
Metal 0,5 1380 940 25.32 5.57*10 25°C 0,1 0,451
(iron) W/m^ W/m^2 (W/m^* ^(-8)
2 2K)
Black 0.94 1380 940 6 5.57*10 25°C 0,05 1050
Paint W/m^ W/m^2 (W/m^* ^(-8)
2 2K)
White 0.84 1380 940 4 5.57*10 25°C 0,8 1050
paint W/m^ W/m^2 (W/m^* ^(-8)
2 2K)
Rear 0.04 1380 940 8 5.57*10 25°C 0,8 870
side W/m^ W/m^2 (W/m^* ^(-8)
metaliz 2 2K)
ed
glass
mirror

According to these values, we can calculate the steady temperatures of the objects in the
different scenarios, using the formulas describes above. The results are shown in the
following table:

Object Temperature in space Temperature on earth

(Kelvin) (Kelvin)
Metal (iron) 309,15
332,136
Black Paint 412,9161432 298,75
White paint 347,1323453 321,35
Rear side metalized glass 299,45
mirror 176,6399791
Bibliography:

 https://www.thermoworks.com/emissivity-table/

 https://www.flukeprocessinstruments.com/en-us/service-and-support/knowledge-
center/infrared-technology/emissivity-metals

 https://www.otm.sg/thermal-conductivity-of-thin-materials-paint-coating-metal-
sheet#:~:text=Negligible%20thermal%20resistance%20of%20thin
%20materials&text=it%20is%20obvious%20that%20the,plaster%2C%20or
%20insulation%20wool).