Conveners
C1PoC - Aerospace
- Peter Kittel (Retired)
- James Tuttle (NASA / GSFC)
This paper presents the design and preliminary test results of a novel cryogenic mixing pump based on the magnetocaloric effect. The mixing pump is developed to enable long-term cryogenic propellant storage in space by preventing thermal stratification of cryogens in storage tanks. The mixing pump uses an innovative thermodynamic process to generate a fluid jet to promote fluid mixing,...
The prediction of thermal stratification in a cryogenic propellant tank is necessary for the successful execution of space missions. For the reduction of pressuring gas mass, high temperature gas is used for pressuring which may leads to thermal stratification and hence self-pressurization. The different gravity conditions experienced by the propellant tank affect the thermal stratification....
The cooling line for the mechanical cryocooler for the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) consists of several meters of small-diameter stainless steel tubing at a normal operating temperature of about 18 Kelvin. Over much of its length this line is surrounded by surfaces at significantly higher temperatures, so it is gold-plated to minimize absorption...
Although thermodynamic vent system (TVS) has been the promising pressure control technique for the long term on-orbit storage of cryogenic propellant, the current technology readiness level of TVS is still very low, thus it is essential to conduct in-depth research on TVS. In the present study, one experimental rig is built to research the performance of TVS with R123. The tank pressurization,...
Propellant mass gauging is one of the key technologies required to enable the next step in NASA's space exploration program. At present, there is no reliable method to accurately measure the amount of unsettled liquid propellant in a large-scale propellant tank in micro- or zero gravity. Recently we proposed a new approach to use sound waves to probe the resonance frequencies of the two-phase...
Filling a vehicular liquid hydrogen fuel tank presents the potential for flammable mixtures due to condensed oxygen from liquid air condensation. Current liquid hydrogen tank designs utilize insulating paradigms such as aerogel/fiberglass materials, vacuum jackets, or inert gas purge systems to keep the outer surface from reaching the condensation temperature of air. This work examines the...
