Numerical thermal mathematical model correlation to thermal balance test using adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO)

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering 2012-05, Vol.38, p.168-174
• Main Authors: Beck, T., Bieler, A., Thomas, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; BELA; BepiColombo; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Heat transfer; Particle swarm optimisation; Spacecraft; Stavroudis baffle; Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering; Thermal Balance Test; Thermal Model
• ISSN: 1359-4311
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2012.01.027

We present structural and thermal model (STM) tests of the BepiColombo laser altimeter (BELA) receiver baffle with emphasis on the correlation of the data with a thermal mathematical model. The test unit is a part of the thermal and optical protection of the BELA instrument being tested under infrared and solar irradiation at the University of Bern. An iterative optimization method known as particle swarm optimization has been adapted to adjust the model parameters, mainly the linear conductivity, in such a way that model and test results match. The thermal model reproduces the thermal tests to an accuracy of 4.2 °C ± 3.2 °C in a temperature range of 200 °C after using only 600 iteration steps of the correlation algorithm. The use of this method brings major benefits to the accuracy of the results as well as to the computational time required for the correlation. ► We present model correlations of the BELA receiver baffle to thermal balance tests. ► Adaptive particle swarm optimization has been adapted for the correlation. ► The method improves the accuracy of the correlation and the computational time.