Earth radiation budget instruments are devices designed to study global climate change. These instruments use telescopes embarked on low-earth-orbit satellites to measure Earth emitted and reflected solar radiation. Radiation is sensed as temperature changes caused by radiation absorbed during scans of the earth on a delicate gold-black coated detector. This work is part of a larger effort to develop an end-to-end dynamic electro-thermal model, based on first-principles, for the next generation of earth radiation budget instruments, the Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI). A primary objective of this effort is to develop a numerical model of the detector to be used on RBI. Specifically, the sensor model converts radiation arriving at the detector, collimated and focused through telescopes, into sensible heat; thereby producing a voltage. A mathematical model characterizing this sensor is developed. Using a MATLAB algorithm, an implicit finite-volume scheme is implemented to determine the model solution. Model parameters are tuned to replicate experimental data using a robust parameter estimation scheme. With these model parameters defined, the electro-thermal sensor model can be used, in conjunction with the remaining components of the end-to-end model, to provide insight for future interpretation of data produced by the RBI. / Master of Science / Earth radiation budget instruments are devices designed to study global climate change. These instruments use telescopes embarked on low-earth-orbit satellites to measure radiation exiting the atmosphere of the Earth. As the atmospheric science community works to design and develop the next generation of these instruments, a need for a model capable of simulating operating performance has arisen. This work is part of a larger effort to develop a complete model for the next generation of Earth radiation budget instruments, the Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI). A primary objective of this effort is to develop a model of a detector to be used on the RBI. The modelling techniques used to characterize the detector are presented in this work. Once the model has been developed, optimal model parameters are determined to tune the model. With these model parameters defined, the detector model can be used, in conjunction with the remaining pieces of the overall end-to-end model, to provide insight for future interpretation of data produced by the RBI.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/82035 |
| Date | 06 February 2018 |
| Creators | Pfab, Jonathan Francis |
| Contributors | Mechanical Engineering, Vick, Brian L., Nguyen, Vinh, Mahan, James R. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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