Speaker
Description
In this talk, we present a preliminary investigation of cryogenic tanks of the AS-203 low gravity cryogenic experiment.
A 3D full FEM thermal model was generated to predict the temperature distribution in the different components of the upper stage of the launcher in orbit. The structure is analysed with the commercially-available OOFELIE::Multiphysics engineering software solution. This thermal model accounts for radiation heat input from the Sun, Earth Albedo, and Deep Space & Earth Infra-Red. Different materials are involved in the heat conduction in the different structural components, and the considered fluids (LOX & LH2) are at cryogenic conditions. Initial conditions are not computed since launch-time (ad-initio) but are deduced from measurements on different surfaces of the spacecraft. Therefore, the definition of a dedicated strategy to compute this initial temperature distribution is exposed. Dynamic simulation over a period of ~20.000 seconds is considered in this investigation. Computed temperature distributions and pressure rates are in good agreement with test data.
This first thermal FEM model contains some limitations/simplifications. Some of them could be removed in more advanced models. However, it already provides valuable insights for pre-design/ pre-sizing activities.
| Keywords | Cryogenic Thermal Management, Tanks, Reservoir, thermal model |
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