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Cryogenic Propellant Feed System Analytical Tool DevelopmentThe Propulsion Systems Branch at NASA s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) has developed a parametric analytical tool to address the need to rapidly predict heat leak into propellant distribution lines based on insulation type, installation technique, line supports, penetrations, and instrumentation. The Propellant Feed System Analytical Tool (PFSAT) will also determine the optimum orifice diameter for an optional thermodynamic vent system (TVS) to counteract heat leak into the feed line and ensure temperature constraints at the end of the feed line are met. PFSAT was developed primarily using Fortran 90 code because of its number crunching power and the capability to directly access real fluid property subroutines in the Reference Fluid Thermodynamic and Transport Properties (REFPROP) Database developed by NIST. A Microsoft Excel front end user interface was implemented to provide convenient portability of PFSAT among a wide variety of potential users and its ability to utilize a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) developed in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The focus of PFSAT is on-orbit reaction control systems and orbital maneuvering systems, but it may be used to predict heat leak into ground-based transfer lines as well. PFSAT is expected to be used for rapid initial design of cryogenic propellant distribution lines and thermodynamic vent systems. Once validated, PFSAT will support concept trades for a variety of cryogenic fluid transfer systems on spacecraft, including planetary landers, transfer vehicles, and propellant depots, as well as surface-based transfer systems. The details of the development of PFSAT, its user interface, and the program structure will be presented.
Document ID
20110013505
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lusby, Brian S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Miranda, Bruno M.
(Engineering and Science Contract Group Houston, TX, United States)
Collins, Jacob A.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
July 31, 2011
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
JSC-CN-24165
Meeting Information
Meeting: 47th AIAAfASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: July 31, 2011
End Date: August 3, 2011
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Electrical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 095240.04.12.01.10
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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