Simplified analytical model for predicting the temperature of balloon on high-altitude

• Six simplified radiation heat transfer models for balloon film are developed.
• Two modified convection heat transfer models for balloon system are derived.
• Thermal equilibrium equations for balloon system are established.
• New models are validated by prior flight data.
• Applied example of new model is given for predicting thermal equilibrium temperature of balloon system.

This paper outlines an analytical model to predict the temperature of fully-inflated balloon on float at high altitude in stratosphere. Simplified radiative and convective heat transfer models are developed to estimate absorption and emission heat of balloon film and lifting gas within balloon. Thermal equilibrium equations for the balloon system in the day time and night time are derived by incorporating radiative and convective heat transfer models. The new model is applied to calculate the day and night temperatures of the balloon system on float at a high-altitude in stratosphere and reasonable correlation is achieved between the predictions obtained from new models and from prior flight testing data, demonstrating the effective use of the proposed models.