Phys.org August 19, 2024
Researchers in Spain explored the design of a space habitat thermally controlled using phase change materials (PCMs) to maintain a suitable, habitable temperature inside the habitat by isolating it from the external solar radiation. They studied the system numerically considering only diffusive heat transport scenario with practical application to microgravity or reduced gravity environments. The system dynamics were explored for a wide range of governing parameters, including the length of the PCM cell L, the thermo-optical properties at the external boundary of the habitat wall exposed to solar radiation, the eclipse fraction of the solar cycle, and the PCM used. They found that the thermo-optical properties at the external radiated boundary played a key role in the system response and largely defined the optimal design of the habitat. The optimum balanced the heat absorbed and released by the PCM during repeated illumination and eclipse cycles… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Sketch of habitat concept and the associated 1-dimensional model… Credit: Thermo 2023, 3(2), 232-247, 12 April 2023