(anikan$an"(+ )rini/as"E1 I"Thir'na/'kkaras' ?

an$ Tapan )hahD

)i6ing an$ )ensiti/it2 Anal2sis of Aero!ot for 8lanetar2 <#ploration

AbstractAerobot
provides an aerial platform to collect in-situ data. Such a platform combines long-range mobility with opportunity to take in situ and high spatial resolution remote sensing measurements on regional to global scales. Russians VEGAS mission demonstrated the application of aerobot for planetary e ploration. !umerical simulations using "#$ are carried out for the fluid flow around the aerobot with the atmospheric condition from the estimation of flyable region over Venus. Aspect ratios of the aerobot are ranged over % to & which are obtained from the si'ing calculation through the iteration process. "ommercially available package #luent was used to analy'e the flow around the body and compute the drag components that are generated at different velocities. #rom the numerical simulations and sensitivity analyses( it was found that the drag components and balloon internal temperature are strongly governed by the aspect ratio as well as the Reynolds number. )he simulation results are presented in terms of skin friction drag coefficient( pressure drag co-efficient and total drag co-efficient variations in terms of aspect ratio as well as Reynolds number. Sensitivity of Aerobot internal temperatures are carried out with different aspect ratios and surface coatings by balancing the inflow and outflow of the radiant energy.

!alloon at another planet o!ser/ations from it F+G"

an$

performing

s0ientifi0

(an2 m2sterio's or 'nsol/e$ 7'estions of the planets aro'n$ the s'n 0an !e sol/e$ thro'gh the 0lose planetar2 o!ser/ations" These planetar2 o!ser/ations ill pro/i$e the $ata hi0h 0an !e 'se$ to e#amine the general 0hara0teristi0s of the target planet an$ its atmospheri0 profile" Ero'p of <ngineers from H8L% NA)A an$ other )pa0e <#ploration Agen0ies are orking on the $e/elopment of long $'ration aero!ot for planetar2 e#ploration" (an2 /ehi0les ha/e st'$ie$ in sit' &en's atmosphere: ++ &enera pro!es (&eneras D-+D)% t o &<EA lan$ers% t o &<EA !alloons an$ fo'r 8ioneer &en's pro!es% +1 or!itersIfl2-!2 gathere$ remote $ata: three (ariners ((ariner 1% .% +C)% 8ioneer &en's or!iter% (agellan% Ealileo% fo'r &enera or!iters (&enera ,% +C% +.% +B)% an$ t o &<EA F1G" In f't're% I)RO is planning to la'n0h a s0ientifi0 mission to &en's an$ R'ssia is also planning for one more spa0e pro!es (&enera-D) to &en's to !e la'n0he$ aro'n$ 1C+B" This paper $es0ri!es the si6ing metho$olog2 an$ sensiti/it2 anal2ses for long $'ration a'tonomo's Aero!ot platform for planetar2 e#ploration" There are literat'res ha/e !een p'!lishe$ on LTA platform for &en's e#ploration% !'t to the !est of o'r kno le$ge this is the first report on aero$2nami0all2 shape$ (prolate spheroi$) platform for &en's e#ploration"

*eywords:
.latform

Aerobot( Venus( VEGA( +)A ,+ighter-)han-Air-

INTRODUCTION

ighter-Than-Air (LTA) platform is sometimes kno n as

Aero!ot" Aero!ot is one of the !est platforms for e#ploration on planets an$ moons ith an atmosphere% like &en's% (ars% or )at'rn*s moon Titan" In +,-. the )o/iet la'n0he$ to pro!es &ega + an$ &ega 1 into the atmosphere of &en's an$ $emonstrate$ the feasi!ilit2 of the aero!ot for &en's e#ploration3 Infa0t% in 'sing the aero!ot for planetar2 e#ploration% one of the most $iffi0'lt tasks is to insert them into operation an$ 0ontrol it" Aero!ot enters the &en'sian atmosphere ith the help of an 4aeroshell4% a heat shiel$ in the shape of a flattene$ 0one" After atmospheri0 entr2% a para0h'te ill e#tra0t the !alloon assem!l2 from the aeroshell% hi0h falls a a2" The !alloon assem!l2 then $eplo2s an$ inflates"

O5H<CTI&< OJ TK< <L8LORATION The fate of the <arth 0o'l$ !e represente$ !2 the st'$2 of &en's atmosphere% 0limati0 pro0ess an$ interior" <#ploration of the s'rfa0e of the &en's ma2 lea$ to the e/i$en0e of planet*s earlier histor2 an$ origin% as ell as a $eeper 'n$erstan$ing of the nat're an$ e/ol'tion of the interior $2nami0s F?G" 8lanetar2 e#ploration ma2 pro/i$e the information a!o't the so'r0es of material that forme$ the &en's an$ their relationship to the materials that forme$ the other terrestrial planets" Compare to the <arth atmosphere% &en's atmosphere is so $ense an$ 0onsist of mostl2 0ar!on $io#i$e ith a!'n$ant s'lph'r o#i$es"

5alloons ha/e !een long re0ogni6e$ as 'ni7'e% lo -0ost s0ientifi0 platforms $'e to their relati/el2 lo 0ost an$ lo po er 0ons'mption" In$ee$% the s'00essf'l &enera-&ega 8ro9e0t $emonstrate$ te0hni0al feasi!ilit2 of $eplo2ing a
: + ; Asst" 8rof% Dept" of Aerona'ti0al an$ A'tomo!ile <ngg (ail: manikan$an"m=manipal"e$'%% 1-Asst"8rof% Dept of Aero > A'to <ngg" ?Asso0" 8rof% Dept" of Instr'mentation an$ Control <ngg% (anipal Instit'te of Te0hnolog2% (anipal Uni/ersit2% @arnataka-.AB+CD% In$ia" D ; 8ro9e0t Asso0iate% In$ian Instit'te of Te0hnolog2% Ean$hi Nagar% In$ia"

The e#ploration of &en's near the s'rfa0e an$ the top of the atmosphere ma2 pro/i$e the a$$itional information a!o't the origin an$ e/ol'tion of &en's an$ it is also ne0essar2 to 'n$erstan$ the $2nami0al% 0hemi0al an$ geologi0 pro0ess on other planets" Tho'gh the &en's an$ <arth are i$enti0al in mass an$ $ensities% the atmosphere of &en's% s'rfa0e en/ironment an$ te0toni0 st2les are /astl2 $ifferent from the <arth*s atmosphere" It has !een s'ggeste$ that &en's ma2 ha/e !een more <arth-like earlier in its histor2 an$ then e/ol/e$ to its 0'rrent state% an$ that <arth ma2 'ltimatel2 transform to a hot% $r2% inhospita!le planet like &en's" )o the 'n$erstan$ing the interior $2nami0s an$ atmospheri0 0omposition an$ e/ol'tion ma2 pro/i$e insight into the 'ltimate fate of <arth"

mP?" K2$rogen an$ heli'm pro/i$e almost $o'!le the lifting for0e per /ol'me an$ hen0e o'l$ nee$ a total /ol'me of appro#imatel2 +1C mP?" K2$rogen 0o'l$ not !e 'se$ $'e to its e#treme flamma!ilit2" Ken0e it as 0on0l'$e$ that heli'm as the onl2 s'ita!le gas for the aero!ot"

Jig're ?"+: Comparison of Lifting Jor0e

Jig'r e 1"+: Comparison !et een &en's an$ <arth

&<NU)IAN <N&IRON(<NT &en's is the se0on$ planet from the )'n an$ is the si#th largest planet" It is a!o't ,.M the $iameter of <arth" &en's has earne$ the title of N<arth*s t inO" &en's atmosphere o'l$ !e simple !e0a'se of la0k o0eans an$ seasons to transport heat an$ moment'm" &en's is the planet here the importan0e of the greenho'se effe0t as first reali6e$% an$ here in$s !lo ith h'rri0ane for0e nearl2 e/er2 here a0ross the planet" &en's has no moons" A &en'sian $a2 is 1D? <arth $a2s long - longer than its 2ear of 11. $a2s" Clo'$s o/er &en's 0ontain s'lph'ri0 a0i$ $roplets" The 0lo'$ 0o/er o/er the s'rfa0e of the &en's e#ten$s from appro#imatel2 D. km to appro#imatel2 BD km" A!o/e BD km the press're /al'e is aro'n$ C"+ !ar" The temperat're !et een D. km to BD km /aries !et een -C $eg" to -?. $eg" The in$ spee$ o/er the s'rfa0e of the &en's $e0reases as a f'n0tion of altit'$e from +CC mIs to at the altit'$e BC km o/er the top of 0lo'$s to C". mIs at the s'rfa0e" The high in$ spee$ an$ the slo rotation of the planet 0a'ses s'per rotation of the atmosphere near the s'rfa0e of the planet" The in$ spee$ is 0al0'late$ !ase$ on the e7'ations liste$ in FD% .G CO(8ARI)ON OJ LIJTINE EA)<) The !elo fig're sho s that to lift +CC kg of eight 'sing ammonia or methane o'l$ re7'ire a /ol'me of at least +-C

At &en's am!ient temperat'res of A?-"1 @ an$ press'res of ,1"+ !ar (QC km altit'$e) Keli'm has a $ensit2 of C"CB gramsIm?" Rithin a ,1"+ !ar !alloon at ?+1"-B @% Keli'm has a $ensit2 of C"+D gramsImP? hile ater /apo'r o'l$ ha/e a $ensit2 of C"B? gramsImP?" Th's the lift per 0'!i0 meter of the Keli'm !alloon is C"+D ; C"CB S C"C- gmImP?% hile that of the hot ater /apo'r !alloon o'l$ !e C"B? ; C"1A S C"?B gmImP?" 8OR<R JLUL AND A&AILA5ILITT AT &<NU)

Jig're ."+: 8o er A/aila!le thro'gho't a $a2 at /ario's latit'$es F.G

The a!'n$ant amo'nt of solar energ2 is a/aila!le at the top atmosphere of &en's" The ma#im'm solar fl'# at the &en's is aro'n$ 1BCC RImP1% hi0h is m'0h greater than the a/aila!ilit2 at <arth or!it" A!o/e the s'rfa0e of &en's the solar intensit2 is !et een .1C RImP1 an$ +?CC RImP1 F.G"

A<RO5OT
B"+" )IUINE (<TKOD:

The initial si6ing metho$ of the aero!ot for planetar2 e#ploration is as follo s" Jirst% the atmospheri0 $ata relate$ to the 0orrespon$ing altit'$e /i6" $ensit2% press're% an$ temperat're% kinemati0 /is0osit2 is estimate$% 'sing stan$ar$ form'lae liste$ in FD%.G" The si6e of the en/elope is optimi6e$ !ase$ on the iteration pro0ess 'sing /ol'me of the en/elope an$ lifting 0apa!ilit2 of the $esire$ pa2loa$" Jrom the am!ient in$ spee$ an$ solar intensit2 $iff'sion thro'gh the atmosphere thro'gho't the 2ear3 )hape of the en/elope% $rag% lift an$ solar 0ell si6e for re7'ire$ on-!oar$ po er are estimate$% a00or$ing to the pro0e$'re o'tline$ in FDG" The si6ing 0al0'lation is initiate$ !2 estimating the eight of all the 0omponents of the aero!ot" Jrom the eight of all the 0omponents% total aero!ot eight as estimate$" The eight of the en/elope as $etermine$ from the material $ensit2 an$ thi0kness" 52 'sing the Ar0hime$e*s prin0iple an$ the lifting gas% the /ol'me of the en/elope as $etermine$" The ma9or an$ minor a#es of the en/elope ere 0al0'late$ 'sing the /ol'me e7'ation" The length of the aero!ot as 0al0'late$ from the ratio of ma9or a#is to minor a#is an$ en/elope /ol'me !ase$ on the pa2loa$ eight" )'rfa0e area of the en/elope as 0al0'late$ from the s'rfa0e area appro#imation form'la"

Jrom the po er re7'irement% solar intensit2 thro'gho't the $a2 an$ the prop'lsi/e effi0ien02% the solar panel area 0an !e 0al0'late$ o/er the s'rfa0e of the aero!ot" It also gi/es an in$i0ation of the !en$ing moment e#perien0e$ !2 the en/elope $'e to s'rfa0e loa$ing% an$ there!2 res'lts in the re7'irement of a$$itional internal press're" An aero!ot 0an !e man'fa0t're$ in an2 $esire$ shape" Rhen the aero!ot is s'perpress're$% the stress $istri!'tion ill /ar2 o/er the s'rfa0e% ith the highest stresses in areas of ma#im'm ra$ii of 0'r/at're" Onl2 the sphere pro/i$es 'niform stress $istri!'tion o/er the entire s'rfa0e" Ko e/er% 0onstr'0tional $iffi0'lties arise hi0h 0an offset m'0h of the geometri0 effi0ien02 of the sphere" The ma9orit2 of shapes hi0h are 'sef'l in the $esign of s'perpress're !alloons 0an !e 0onsi$ere$ as sphere" The sphere 0an !e 0onsi$ere$ as a prolate spheroi$ in hi0h the ma9or an$ minor ra$ii are e7'al" The 02lin$er 0an !e 0onsi$ere$ as a prolate spheroi$ for hi0h the ma9or ra$i's is /er2 m'0h larger than the minor ra$i's" There are some parameters that ha/e to !e 0onsi$ere$ !efore starts ith $esigning of an aero!ot FAG" The2 are 8a2loa$ Operating (a#im'm altit'$e (a#im'm spee$ Cr'ise spee$ <n$'ran0e 5'o2an02 0ontrol Total Lift less str'0t're 5allonet 8er0entage Installe$ Korsepo er

Jrom the aero$2nami0 theories% e kno that

Jig're B"+: <n/elope si6ing pro0ess FBG

CL =

JLift C". air & A

1

; CD =

JDrag C". air & 1 A

The aero!ot si6e an$ flight altit'$e is $etermining the po er a/aila!le for flight" The main po er so'r0e for the aero!ot is solar po er" )olar Arra2 0on/ert s'nlight into ele0tri0it2 is $ire0tl2 fe$ into the engine to minimi6e transformation losses" 8o er re7'irement in0l'$es po er nee$e$ to generate thr'st an$ to operate 0omm'ni0ation s2stems% flight 0ontrol an$ pa2loa$"

In the a!o/e t o e#pressions% A represents the s'rfa0e area of the aero!ot" Jor aero!ot% the lift is $ire0tl2 relate$ to its en/elope /ol'me" Ko e/er% ith the large s'rfa0e area% most of the $rag on the aero!ot is mainl2 $'e to skin fri0tion" Rhen the length of the en/elope in0reases% the press're $rag is re$'0e$ an$ the /is0o's $rag in0reases" Infa0t% /is0o's $rag is $ire0tl2 proportional to s'rfa0e area of the en/elope"

B"1" NU(<RICAL )I(ULATION):

N'meri0al sim'lation of the flo aro'n$ the aero!ot as performe$ in or$er to o!tain the estimation of the possi!le aero$2nami0 performan0es of a solar po ere$ aero!ot" @T'r!'len0e mo$el as emplo2e$ for the n'meri0al sim'lations"
Jig're B"D: C $/ /ers's &elo0it2

Jig're B"1: Conto'rs of 8ress're Co-effi0ient

Jrom the estimation of fl2a!le region o/er &en's% the atmospheri0 0on$ition ha/e !een impose$ for all the sim'lations% 0onsisting in an altit'$e of .D km ( % pS 8a% TS @) an$ the hori6ontal /elo0it2 of BC mIs F-G" )able /.0 $rag components referred to ) Aspe0t Ratio ? . A
et

Jig're B".: C $ /ers's Aspe0t Ratio

C"CC.BCA C"CC.C?? C"CC.+B+

C"CC?DC"CC1+? C"CC11C+

C"CC,C-A C"CCA+BA C"CCA?B1

Jig're B"B: C $p /ers's &elo0it2

Aspe0t ratio is one of the important parameter in $e0i$ing the shape an$ si6e of the aero!ot" Jrom this parametri0 ratio% e 0an 0al0'late the estimate$ /ol'me an$ Re2nol$s n'm!ers relati/e to the flo aro'n$ an aero!ot are )able /.1 Si'ing data .hi 1 D B a ?"D 1", 1"A 1"B b B"++" B +B" 1 1C" B c ?"D 1", 1"AC 1".A Volume ,m%??C D++ D,1 .A1 Reynolds !o. +"-1<VC. ?"++<VC. D"??<VC. .".1<VC.

Jig're B"?: C $ /ers's Re2nol$s N'm!er

)<N)ITI&ITT ANALT)<) The en/elope /ol'me in0reases e#ponentiall2 ith aero!ot length% as 0an !e seen in Jig're +C for +CC kg 8a2loa$"

The Change in Aero!ot internal temperat're at $ifferent aspe0t ratios has !een estimate$ !2 !alan0ing the inflo an$ o'tflo of the ra$iant energ2 at e7'ili!ri'm state"

Jig're A"+: <n/elope &ol'me /ers's Aero!ot Length

Jig're A"D: Aero!ot Internal temperat're /Is Aspe0t Ratio (Coate$ ith Eol$% S C"?% S C"C.)

Jig're A"1 sho s the /ariation in the Net lift of the aero!ot (= ..km altit'$e of &en's) at $ifferent aspe0t ratios"

Jig're A".: Aero!ot Internal temperat're /Is Aspe0t Ratio (Coate$ ith Al'mini'm% S C"?% S C"C.) TOOL) U)<D Jig're A"1: Net Lift /ers's Aspe0t Ratio

There are t o a2s to in0rease the lift of a gi/en !alloon: either lo er the mole0'lar eight of the lift gas or raise the temperat're of the !alloon F,G"

Jor the n'meri0al sim'lation% $is0reti6ation of the en/elope has !een ma$e in IC<( CJD" All the si6ing iterations ha/e !een $one thro'gh (i0rosoft <#0el sprea$sheet" R<)ULT) AND DI)CU))ION Jrom the si6ing metho$olog2 $es0ri!e$ a!o/e% three aero!ots ha/e !een $esigne$ 'sing CAD tool from the geometri0al parameters as inp't that is generate$ thro'gh the iteration pro0ess ith $ifferent aspe0t ratios" Re2nol$s A/erage$ Na/ier-stokes e7'ations ha/e !een emplo2e$ for n'meri0al sim'lations to estimate the /ariation in C $ 0omponents on $ifferent aspe0t ratios of the aero!ot en/elope" As a res'lt% the $esire$ shape an$ si6e of the aero!ot 0an !e $etermine$" Jrom the sensiti/it2 anal2sis% it as o!ser/e$ that the aero!ot internal temperat're is strongl2 go/erne$ !2 aspe0t ratio an$ propert2 of the Aero!ot s'rfa0e 0oating"

Jig're A"?: Lifting Capa!ilit2 of $ifferent Eases

CONCLU)ION Comp'tation of $rag for0e o/er the s'rfa0e of the en/elope at $ifferent /elo0ities as ell as aspe0t ratios an$ the fl'i$ flo aro'n$ en/elope 'sing n'meri0al sim'lation are 0arrie$ o't" Jrom the n'meri0al sim'lations% it as o!ser/e$ that the skinfri0tion $rag% press're $rag an$ total $rag 0o-effi0ient are strongl2 go/erne$ !2 the aspe0t ratio as ell as Re2nol$s n'm!er"
R<J<R<NC<)

F+G R"U" )ag$ee/ et al"% NO/er/ie of &<EA &en's 5alloon in sit' (eteorologi0al (eas'rementsO% Science% 1?+% pp +D++-+D+D% +,-B" F1G &"&"% @er6hano/i0h% D"% Crisp% R" A"% 8reston% L"R"% <sposito% A"8"% Ingersoll% R"<"% To'ng% H"<"% 5lamont% &"("% Linkin % N&en's )tratospheri0 )o'n$er: Jirst In sit' (eas'rements in Upper Clo'$ RegionO% 8aper presente$ to I& IAA International Conferen0e on Lo -Cost 8lanetar2 (issions% (a2 1-.% 1CCC" F?G N&en's Eoals% O!9e0ti/es an$ In/estigationsO% hite paper% s'!mitte$ to NRC De0a$al )'r/e2 Inner 8lanets )'!panel% A'g'st 1C++" FDG Colo66a% A"H"% NAirships for 8lanetar2 <#ploration , NA)AICR1CCD-1+??D.% No/em!er 1CCD" F.G Colo66a% Anthon2% )olar 8o ere$ Jlight on &en's, NA)AICR 1CCD-1+?C.1% April 1CCD" FBG (i0hael Nor$estgaar$% La0hlan Ra/ens0roft% Ni0holas 5artel% NDesign an$ 5'il$ a )mall Aero!otO FAG Colo66a% A"H"% Initial Jeasi!ilit2 Assessment of a Kigh Altit'$e Long <n$'ran0e Airship, NA)AICR-1CC?-1+1A1D% No/em!er 1CCD" F-G @'saga2a% T"% @o9ima% K" an$ J'9ii% K"A"% <stimation of Jl2a!le Regions for 8lanetar2 Aero!ots, AIAA H" of Air0raft% D?(1CCB)% pp"++AA-++-+" F,G U'!rin% R" et al"% NReport on the Anal2sis% Design% Constr'0tion an$ Testing of a 8rotot2pe (ars (i0ro 5alloon 8ro!e%O (ars (i0ro 5alloon 8ro!e (((58) final report for 0ontra0t NA)--,-+B,% (+,,-)"