FLUID MECHANICS AND TANKAGE DESIGN FOR LOW GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Electric propulsion systems for space vehicles must be able to restart and operate at zero and low gravity. This operation can be achieved if the tankage delivers only single-phase propellants. The requirements for feed systems of electric engines are described briefly. Also, the 1.85-second drop- test facility is described and the testing techniques are discussed. The minimum energy principle is presented along with a method for determining the direction of mass transfer in tapered tubes and liquid-vapor interface shapes in an annular space between concentric cylinders. Possible feed systems for electric engines are given, which utilize surface tension for fluid positioning and transfer. Zero-gravity and static-fluid configurations in cylindrical and spherical containers are discussed along with experimental observations. The interface 'overshoot' of the equilibrium zero-gravity configuration is also discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0423554

Entities

People

  • Robert G. Clodfelter

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Facilities
  • Aircrafts
  • Arc Jet Engines
  • Assembly
  • Cameras
  • Electric Engines
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Fluid Mechanics
  • Ion Engines
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Propellants
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Surface Energy
  • Surface Tension
  • Test Facilities
  • Translations

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Phased Array Antenna Design.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster