TANK PRESSURE CONTROL EXPERIMENT (TPCE)

Flight Experiments Technical Interchange Meeting October 6.1

Mike Bentz Boeing Defense & Space Group

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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930019523 2018-08-20T15:46:44+00:00Z

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TANK PRESSURE CONTROL

EXPERIMENT OVERVIEW ~

• Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) is a small self-contained STS payload

• Objective is to test jet mixer for cryogenic fluid pressure control ..

• Flown on STS-43 in August 1991

• Demonstrated reliable pressure control with low-energy mixer

• Reflight scheduled for late October on STS-52

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TANK PRESSURE

CONTROl. EXPERIMENT PROJECT ORGANIZATION

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• Sponsored by In-Space Technology Experiments Program (In-STEP)

• Managed by NASA Lewis Research Center

• Design, fabrication, flight data analysis by Boeing Defense & Space Group

• STS integration managed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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TANI( PRESSURE CONTROL '

EXPERIMBN PROJECT PHILOSOPHY /

• Quick-response, relatively low-cost experiment

• GAS carrier chosen for ease of integration, manifesting

• Class D Modified approach used for hardware development

- minimum cost

- commercial-grade components

- reduced product assurance requirements (except safety)

- extra system-level testing to assure of flight readiness

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TANK PRESSURE co o

ENT RISK MANAGEMENT APPROACH /

• Designed with redundancy where most beneficial -. • Designed for minimal requirements on Orbiter and crew

• Based designs and components, where possible, on those used on prior payloads

• Tested prototype in low-g on Lewis Learjet Microgravity Test Facility

• Performed five complete Mission Simulation tests prior to delivery

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TANK PRESSURE CONTRa

EXPERIMENT PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES /

Problem:

Storage of cryogens for long durations in low-g requires efficient and reliable control of tank pressure.

Active jet mixing is leading candidate for pressure control but energy addition results in boiloff penalty. Low-energy mixing requires in-space test.

Objectives:

• Detennine jet mixing effectiveness in realistic low-g environment as measured by ability of jet to: • penetrate vapor bubbles and reach all tank regions • reduce pressure in minimum time / minimum energy • eauilibrate fluid temperatures

• Provide data for development of analytical models

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TANK PRESSURE CONTROL

EXPERIMENT APPROACH

• Refrigerant 113 simulates cryogens '.

• 0.5 cu-ft tank filled to 83% level

• Pressure raised by heating, then reduced by mixing

• 38 test runs to detennine effect of flow rate, acceleration environment, heater location

• Packaged as an autonomous STS payload using GAS carrier

TANK PRESSURE CONTR EXPERIMENT PAYLOAD CONCEPT

BOEING--------------------------------------------------------------Com

Composlt. structur.

Pr.ssur. transducer

Pressure switch

CUlaway View

Batteries (48)

N'ote: For clarity .. soma components aro not shown In their truo orlontallon:)

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. TANK PRESSURE CONTROL

. ~T~ MI~~ION PLAN EXPERIMENT _ • _ •••• __

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• Secondary payload using Get-Away Special carrier

• Payload size: <200 Ibm, 5.0 cu-ft

• Tank major axis aligned with Orbiter

X-axis, mixer nozzle at aft end

• OMS burns will settle liquid at mixer end

• Tail-first Orbiter orientation during first

sleeping period (8 hours)

• Payload activation by baroswitch during launch

• Test duration: approximately 27 hours

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rANK PRESSURE CON

SUMMARY OF DATA· VIDEO

• Effects of acceleration environment

• Heating (pressure rise) phase

• Self-mixing behavior

• Mixing flow patterns

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CONTRa EXPERIMEN

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rANI( PRESSURE CONTROl.

EXPERIMEN RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS ~

• All objectives met or exceeded, no failures

• Data support thesis that low-energy jet is efficient pressure control device • I

- Moderate velocities cause comDlete circulation, rapid pressure drop

- Low velocities also cause reliable pressure drop with -80% less energy added

- Identified ranges of dimensionless jet momentum to be avoided

- Generated large amount of digital and video data to support model development

• Identified potentially significant pressure rise phenomena requiring further stud

• Payoff: - Cryogen pressure control shown to be manageable problem

- Boiloff mass due to mixing can be reduced to insignificant level

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