Abstract

An approach to the design and analysis of passive radiant coolers is developed. It is based on the use of a highly reflecting, specular cone channel to direct emission from a cooled volume (patch) to cold regions of space. The essence of the approach lies in the determination of the patch–cone radiative coupling, which is analyzed by means of the specular image technique. The optimum cone geometry depends on the parameter to be extremized as well as on the constraints imposed by limited dimensions on the cooler and a limited view of cold space. Specific equations for the calculation of the patch–cone radiative coupling are given for a cooler of rectangular geometry and employed in a sample cooler design. The over-all procedure based on the image technique has proved to be useful and accurate in the design and analysis of radiant coolers for spacecraft applications.

© 1970 Optical Society of America

Radiant Cooling. 2: The Cone Wall Absorption of External Radiant Power

R. V. Annable
Appl. Opt. 11(7) 1495-1501 (1972)

Thermal radiation shields for radiant coolers

R. V. Annable
Appl. Opt. 15(7) 1860-1864 (1976)

Thermoelectrically Cooled GaAlAs Laser Illuminator

D. G. Herzog and H. Kressel
Appl. Opt. 9(10) 2249-2255 (1970)

Effects upon Radiant Intensity Measurements Due to Scattering by Optical Elements

W. H. Venable
Appl. Opt. 9(3) 609-615 (1970)

Two Blackbody Radiometers of High Accuracy

J. M. Kendall and C. M. Berdahl
Appl. Opt. 9(5) 1082-1091 (1970)