Thermal System Design for MIRAGE

Sammanfattning

MIRAGE aims to demonstrate a low-complexity and cost-effective method for measuring stratospheric methane concentration through the BEXUS student program. This method utilizes a NDIR sensor, requiring controlled thermal conditions. To evaluate the need for heating and cooling elements, simulations and experimental tests were conducted, investigating required power ratings and locations. A dedicated thermal control circuit board implements PID-based autonomous control loops to regulate power delivery to the heaters and coolers. Temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors located throughout the experiment provide both input to the control system and monitoring capabilities. The result is a fully developed thermal system design for the MIRAGE experiment, ready for assembly and practical testing before the launch campaign. Future work includes further solving issues such as potential overheating of pressurisation system components and the need for further expansion of the software code implementation.