Experiment Investigation on Fluid Storage Characteristic and Transportation Performance of Propellant Refillable Reservoir in Microgravity Environment

Abstract:

Satellites store and manage propellant by surface tension. A surface tension propellant management device (PMD) consists of a propellant refillable reservoir (PRR) for propellant storage and propellant acquisition vanes (PAVs) for propellant transportation. PRR is a key part of vane type surface tension tank (STT), and its storage performance determines the fluid management of vane type STT. In the present paper, a model test system was established and microgravity drop tower tests conducted based on experimental study of fluid storage and transportation behavior of PRR. Laws of fluid storage and transportation of PRR in microgravity environment were obtained. The test results show that two types of PRR both have good liquid storage capacity, and the double cone PRR exhibits good liquid storage capacity in lateral acceleration. A rational design of PRR can effectively store liquid and control liquid transportation velocity. The test results offer a guideline for optimization of new-style vane type PMD, and also provide a new method for fluid control in space environment.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 390)
• Pages: 91-95
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.390.91
• Online since: August 2013
• Authors: Bao Tang Zhuang, Yong Li, Ha Lin Pan, Qi Hu
• Keywords: Drop Tower Test, Fluid Management, Microgravity, Propellant Refillable Reservoir

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