Multi-parameter sensitivity analysis on thermal characteristics of stratospheric airship

Abstract

Thermal characteristics analysis of stratospheric airship is pivotal in airship design. Many factors can affect the thermal performance. Though the separate influence of each factor was examined in detail by single factor analysis, the multi-parameter sensitivity analysis is still a terra incognita. Here, ten factors were selected to analyze the multi-parameter sensitivity based on the heat transfer process analysis of stratospheric airship and the simplification of thermal equilibrium equations. The orthogonal test design method was used to build the prediction model. In addition, response surface methodology based on the binomial equations was employed as a numerical solver for the fitting equations of the influencing factors. The solutions obtained satisfied the requirements and the relative error of optimal point was 1.7%. The results show that: (1) Among ten parameters, the photovoltaic cells conversion efficiency is an insensitive parameter. (2) An optimum combination scheme is the envelope emissivity of 0.9, envelope absorptivity of 0.1, photovoltaic cells emissivity of 0.9, photovoltaic cells absorptivity of 0.5, photovoltaic cells equivalent thermal resistance of 0.8 m2 K/W. And the helium temperature difference in this condition is 17.404 K. (3) Considering the real situation, five alternatives are recommended according to their performance close to the optimal results.