Minimizing Pressure Changes within a
High-Altitude Balloon Payload
Rydell Stottlemyer and Brian Smith
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Northern Colorado
Abstract Design Flight Results
We have constructed a payload that will be launched via a high
The design of our payload is centered around two key features. The first being mass and the
altitude balloon in order to test a pressure containment vessel we have
second being the experiment to be contained. Attempting to minimze the mass of the payload, we
designed. Many balloon experiments require that the pressure remain
used as few parts as possible without having to sacrifice any necessary sensors and their supporting
relatively constant and close to one atmosphere. In the past, many
electronics and structure. We mounted all primary sensors on to two circuit boards, or shields, with
students have found that the most effective way to meet this challenge
the only exceptions being the experimental pressure sensor and the external temperature sensor.
is to use chambers made of pvc plastic. However, these chambers tend
The frame of the payload is 3D printed using ABS and is surrounded by XPS insulation. The
to be relatively high in mass. Our goal was to design a chamber that
insulation serves a dual function: providing structure to the walls and ensuring that heat loss within
effectively maintains a constant pressure, yet is lightweight and simple
the payload is minimized. The outside of the payload is covered with aluminum tape and
to construct. We chose to examine how PLA plastic performs in this
aluminized non-stretch polyester to further protect the payload from heat loss and also to shield the
capacity. We utilized a 3D printer to print the container and an ABS
electronics from radiation. Finally, we placed the heater in a strategic spot to keep the entire
frame. This frame supports the general structure in which the chamber
payload at functioning temperatures. Below are some figures depicting various aspects of the
and its supporting devices are housed. We placed one barometer inside
design.
the chamber and a second one outside to collect control data. We
attempt to maintain a relatively constant temperature within our payload
by utilizing a heating system that uses an Arduino microprocessor to
turn the heater on and off when the temperature falls outside a
predetermined range.
Background
We constructed a container that is initially filled with a small amount
of air. As the payload carrying this container increases in altitude, the Shown above are data collected for our vessels during flight.
The first graph shows the pressure of each vessel versus the
external pressure will decrease reaching pressures as low as one
Figure 1: The first shield houses the control. The test1 vessel was sealed with Scigrip 16 acrylic
kilopascal, or 0.00987 atm, (based on past DemoSat data). Normally, inside temperature sensor, humidity adhesive, along with being shrink-wrapped with a layer of
the pressure in a payload will decrease during ascension. For an ideal sensor, accelerometer, and the control silicone. The test2 vessel was sealed with JB weld along with
gas within a container, pressure (P), volume (V), and temperature (T) pressure sensor. being shrink-wrapped with silicone as well. The second graph
have the following relationship: shows the temperature inside the payload during flight the
temperature was kept around five degrees Celsius.
Figure 3: This is a schematic of our Arduino circuit. The
heater is placed in such a way so that a constant
Given this, to maintain a constant pressure within our vessel, we will temperature will be maintained throughout the payload. Conclusion
attempt to maintain a constant temperature and volume within it.
We saw that the PLA chambers did not preform as well as
Because the external pressure will decrease as the payload ascends, the anticipated. This could be from several variables, the main one
pressure within the vessel will have the tendency to rise. Therefore, the being the low temperatures the vessels experienced during the
frame of the compartment must be airtight and strong enough to combat flight. This is possibly from the PLA itself becoming more
this increase in pressure. brittle and permeable in the cold. It could also be from the
silicone allowing air to flow out where the wires are attached.
Objectives Figure 2: The second shield
Maintaining a higher temperature in the vessel during flight
may solve some of these problems.
houses the multiplexer, the SD
• To attempt to minimize pressure changes within our payload without
card loger, outside temperature Acknowledgements
doing any active work on the system. and the experimental pressure Dr. Matthew Semak
• We hope to discover an optimal method for maintaining relatively sensors. Dr. Cynthia Galovich
Figure 4: Our payload is designed in such a way
constant pressure to be used for future payload experiments Juan Marcos Avina
that space is optimized for each component.
Chris Koehler
• Examine the use of PLA plastic as material with which to construct a Bernadette Garcia
lightweight chamber that maintains constant pressure Colorado Space Grant Consortium
NASA
• To learn how build a payload
