ESTEC Calorimeter: Numerical Interpretation of Measurements

The ESTEC calorimeter was designed for heat transfer measurements on blankets of multi layered insulation (MLI). This work comprises a Finite Element thermal model based on the computer code ANSYS which is used for an interpretation of the experimental data gained during the 35 years of measurement. A parameter study of various test setup parameters was performed to find possible improvements for future calorimeter designs. Similar blanket lay-ups were used to test the influence of number of layers and material parameters on the analysis results. The influence of residual gas conduction in the MLI blankets was further studied and included in the numerical model. The results of the study form the basis of a further improvement of the measurement accuracy and of possible design improvements.