A channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure

Abstract

The present invention proposes a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure, including a capillary porous plate and a groove structure. The channel-type guide plate is connected to the liquid reservoir at the bottom of the tank through a bracket. The channel-type guide plate is arranged parallel to the inner wall of the tank and extends along the inner wall to the top of the tank. The cross-section of the channel-type guide plate is a trapezoidal structure with a hollow interior, forming a closed channel for the flow of propellant. The channel-type guide plate is a capillary porous plate on the side close to the tank wall, and a plurality of micron-sized inverted conical capillary holes are arranged on the capillary porous plate by single-sided laser drilling, which can retain liquid and serve as a gas barrier. The channel-type guide plate is suitable for satellite propulsion systems with strong maneuverability and high acceleration. It has the advantages of simple structure, light weight, high reliability, strong flow-conducting ability, etc., and can provide guidance for the development of third-generation surface tension tanks (PMDs).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of propellant management in a space microgravity environment, and in particular to a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure. Background Art

[0002] Surface tension tanks are currently the most commonly used type of tank in satellite propulsion systems, characterized by their lightweight, high reliability, and long lifespan. The core component of a surface tension tank is its internal propellant management device (PMD). The PMD consists of welded components installed within the tank and is designed to provide the spacecraft with air-free propellant liquid under specified flow and acceleration conditions. As PMD structures evolve, surface tension tank types can be divided into first-generation surface tension tanks based on a screen-type structure and second-generation surface tension tanks primarily based on a plate-type structure.

[0003] Early PMDs generally used stainless steel mesh as a capillary element, while propellant acquisition and supply primarily relied on channel-type assemblies. This assembly formed a closed flow path for the propellant, and combined with the mesh's gas barrier function, it was suitable for high flow and acceleration environments. However, the channel-type PMD structure was relatively complex, expensive, and risky, with low reliability. The second generation of surface tension tanks developed from the first generation of surface tension tanks, replacing the vulnerable mesh structure with a plate structure. This significantly improved structural strength and reliability, coupled with a simple, lightweight, and low-cost structure, has gradually become the mainstream propellant tank for large satellites internationally. However, because the plate-type PMD relies entirely on surface tension, the fluid's ability to resist acceleration and vibration is poor, and its propellant storage capacity is low, making it unsuitable for high flow and high acceleration environments.

[0004] Future propulsion systems will need to adapt to large reverse accelerations and possess the ability to refuel at high fill ratios on-orbit. This places new demands on the development of surface tension tanks. They must not only operate normally in high-flow and high-acceleration environments, but also ensure PMD structural strength, operational safety and reliability, and manufacturing and maintenance costs. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on the next generation of capillary-based flow control technology for high-acceleration conditions. Combining the advantages of the two-stage surface tension tank PMD, eliminating the inferior and retaining the superior, the development of a third-stage hybrid plate-mesh surface tank has become the current trend in propellant tank development. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the problems in the prior art and proposes a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure. The guide plate is suitable for high flow and high acceleration environments and is lightweight and highly reliable for use in propellant tanks.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions. The present invention proposes a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure, wherein the guide plate includes a capillary porous plate 1a and a groove 1b, and the capillary porous plate 1a and the groove 1a are connected by welding; the channel-type guide plate 1 is connected to the liquid reservoir 3 at the bottom of the storage tank 4 through a bracket 2; the channel-type guide plate 1 is arranged parallel to the inner wall surface of the storage tank 4 and extends along the inner wall surface to the top of the storage tank 4; the side of the channel-type guide plate 1 close to the wall surface of the storage tank 4 is the capillary porous plate 1a, and a certain gap is set between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the storage tank 4.

[0007] Furthermore, the channel-type guide plate 1 is an arc-shaped rectangular plate with a trapezoidal cross-section and a hollow interior, which can form a closed channel for the flow of propellant.

[0008] Furthermore, the capillary porous plate 1a is provided with a plurality of micron-sized inverted cone-shaped capillary holes by single-sided laser drilling, and the aperture is relatively large on the side close to the inner wall of the storage tank 4; the micron-sized inverted cone-shaped capillary holes are evenly staggered on the capillary porous plate 1a, and a certain distance is set between each hole; the capillary porous plate 1a plays the function of retaining liquid and serving as a gas barrier in the channel-type guide plate 1.

[0009] Furthermore, the structural shape of the groove 1b matches the structural shape of the porous capillary plate 1a.

[0010] Furthermore, there are four channel-type guide plates 1, and the angle between adjacent guide plates is 90°.

[0011] Furthermore, the aperture of the small hole is 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm.

[0012] Furthermore, the bubble bursting pressure of the inverted cone capillary pores is not less than 4×10 4 σ, σ is the surface tension of the propellant liquid.

[0013] Furthermore, the distance between the centers of the small holes is 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0014] Furthermore, the thickness of the groove 1b and the porous capillary plate 1a are both 1 mm.

[0015] Furthermore, the gap between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the storage tank 4 is 2 mm to 8 mm.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] 1. The channel-type guide plate of the present invention, based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure, has a hollow structure inside, which can form a closed flow path for the propellant liquid. Compared with the second-generation plate-type surface tension tank, it retains the liquid diversion ability of the guide plate, but can adapt to larger flow and greater acceleration environments.

[0018] 2. The channel-type guide plate based on the inverted conical orifice plate structure of the present invention adopts a capillary porous plate structure to replace the screen structure of the first-generation channel-type surface tension storage tank. The laser drilling technology can realize the arrangement of micron-level small holes, thereby enhancing the wettability and bubble bursting point pressure of the capillary porous plate. In addition, the orifice plate structure has higher strength, and is safer and more reliable.

[0019] 3. The capillary porous plate in the channel-type guide plate based on the inverted conical orifice plate structure of the present invention adopts an inverted conical through-hole structure. Compared with the general circular through-hole at the same aperture, it can obtain a larger bubble bursting point pressure and play a better gas barrier function.

[0020] 4. The channel-type guide plate based on the inverted conical orifice plate structure of the present invention has a simple and lightweight structure and low manufacturing cost. It not only has excellent propellant management capabilities, but also has strong anti-interference capabilities. It can be applied to satellite propulsion systems with strong maneuverability and high acceleration, and can provide guidance for the development of third-generation surface tension tanks (PMDs). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of assembling a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure in a surface tension tank according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the cross section of the inverted tapered hole on the capillary porous plate of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of inverted tapered holes on the capillary porous plate of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] See Figure 1-Figure 5 The present invention proposes a channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure, wherein the guide plate includes a capillary porous plate 1a and a groove 1b, and the capillary porous plate 1a and the groove 1a are connected by welding; the channel-type guide plate 1 is connected to the liquid reservoir 3 at the bottom of the storage tank 4 through a bracket 2; the channel-type guide plate 1 is made of stainless steel or titanium alloy, and the channel-type guide plate 1 is arranged parallel to the inner wall of the storage tank 4 and extends along the inner wall to the top of the storage tank 4; the side of the channel-type guide plate 1 close to the wall of the storage tank 4 is the capillary porous plate 1a, and a certain gap is set between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the storage tank 4.

[0028] The channel-type guide plate 1 is an arc-shaped rectangular plate with a trapezoidal cross-section and a hollow interior, which can form a closed channel for the flow of propellant. The overall width of the channel-type guide plate is 40 mm to 80 mm.

[0029] The capillary porous plate 1a is provided with a plurality of micron-sized inverted cone-shaped capillary holes by single-sided laser drilling, and the aperture is relatively large on the side close to the inner wall of the storage tank 4; the micron-sized inverted cone-shaped capillary holes are evenly staggered on the capillary porous plate 1a, and a certain distance is set between each hole; the capillary porous plate 1a serves to retain liquid and act as a gas barrier in the channel-type guide plate 1.

[0030] The structural shape of the groove 1b matches the structural shape of the porous capillary plate 1a.

[0031] There are four channel-type guide plates 1, and the angle between adjacent guide plates is 90°.

[0032] The aperture of the small hole is 0.01mm~0.1mm.

[0033] The bubble bursting pressure of the inverted cone capillary pore is not less than 4×10 4 σ, σ is the surface tension of the propellant liquid.

[0034] The distance between the centers of the small holes is 0.5mm to 1mm.

[0035] The thickness of the groove 1b and the porous capillary plate 1a are both 1 mm.

[0036] The gap between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the storage tank 4 is 2mm to 8m.

[0037] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a channel-type flow guide plate 1 based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure. It comprises a capillary porous plate 1a and a groove 1b. The capillary porous plate 1a and the groove 1b are welded together, forming a closed channel for the flow of propellant liquid. The channel-type flow guide plate 1 is connected to the interior of a liquid reservoir 3 via a bracket 2, which is welded to the liquid reservoir 3.

[0039] Specifically, in this embodiment, the channel-type guide plate 1 is made of stainless steel or titanium alloy, is arranged parallel to the inner wall of the tank 4, and extends along the wall of the tank 4 to the top, ensuring the long-range transportation capability of the propellant liquid and realizing full management of the propellant liquid in the tank.

[0040] Specifically, in this embodiment, four channel-type guide plates 1 are evenly arranged along the circumferential direction in the tank 4, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the angle between two adjacent channel-type guide plates 1 is 90°, which can ensure that at least one guide plate is submerged in the propellant under different lateral accelerations.

[0041] Specifically, in this embodiment, the channel-type guide plate 1 is a capillary porous plate 1a on one side close to the wall of the storage tank 4, and a groove 1b on the other side. The channel-type guide plate 1 is an arc-shaped rectangular structure as a whole, and its cross section is a trapezoidal shape. Figure 3 As shown, the interior is hollow, forming a closed flow path for the propellant liquid. The wetted porous element prevents gas ingestion at a specific liquid level or pressure, known as the bubble burst point. The capillary porous plate 1a prevents gas permeation, allowing the propellant to flow through the capillary porous plate 1a into the channel and then flow along it, providing the aircraft with air-free propellant liquid that can withstand high acceleration environments.

[0042] Specifically, in this embodiment, a plurality of inverted cone-shaped capillary holes are arranged on the capillary porous plate 1a by single-sided laser drilling, such as Figure 4 Laser drilling technology can achieve micron-level drilling, making the porous capillary plate 1a have better wettability. At the same time, the smaller the capillary pore size, the greater the bubble bursting pressure of the porous plate.

[0043] Preferably, in this embodiment, the diameter of the tapered hole on one side close to the inner wall of the tank 4 is D1, and the diameter of the other side is D2, and the small hole diameter meets the following requirements: 0.01mm <D2<D1<0.1mm。

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, the bubble burst pressure of the selected inverted conical pore structure depends on the size of the pore diameter D2, and the bubble burst point of the conical pore is greater than that of the cylindrical pore with the same diameter D2. The formula for calculating the bubble burst pressure of the cylindrical pore according to the Young-Laplace equation is:

[0045]

[0046] Where σ is the surface tension of the liquid and θ is the contact angle. Therefore, when the contact angle is 0°, the bubble burst pressure of the tapered capillary pore for the propellant liquid is not less than 4×10 4 σ can be estimated based on the specific value of the propellant liquid surface tension.

[0047] Specifically, in this embodiment, the inverted tapered capillary pores are evenly and staggeredly arranged on the capillary porous plate 1a, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the circumferential distance between the centers of the small holes is L h , axial distance is L v , where L h With L v The value is about 0.5mm to 1mm, so that the capillary porous plate 1a provides sufficient flow area for propulsion while having greater structural strength.

[0048] Specifically, in this embodiment, the gap between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the tank 4 is 2 mm to 8 mm. This allows sufficient propellant liquid to remain between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the tank 4 without disrupting surface tension, ensuring that the propellant can smoothly pass through the capillary porous plate 1a and enter the deflector. Therefore, it is necessary to properly control the gap between the capillary porous plate 1a and the inner wall of the tank 4 to prevent the gap from being too small, which could cause propellant blockage or insufficient propellant liquid in the channel-type deflector 1.

[0049] Specifically, in this embodiment, the total width of the channel-type guide plate 1 is 40 mm to 80 mm, which ensures the propellant liquid transmission capability while maintaining the lightweight of the guide plate structure.

[0050] Specifically, in this embodiment, the thickness of the porous capillary plate 1 a is 1 mm, and the thickness of the groove 1 b is 1 mm.

[0051] Specifically, in this embodiment, the structural shape of the groove 1b matches the structural shape of the porous capillary plate 1a, and they are connected by welding, thereby ensuring the structural strength of the channel-type guide plate.

[0052] The channel-type guide plate based on the orifice plate structure in the present invention combines the advantages of the first-generation channel-type surface tension tank PMD and the second-generation plate-type surface tension tank PMD, while ensuring the safety and reliability of the guide plate, achieving a large flow diversion capacity for non-aerated propellant liquid, and adapting to large acceleration environments.

[0053] The contents not described in detail in the specification of the present invention belong to the common knowledge of professionals in this field.

[0054] The above description only expresses the preferred embodiments of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any other form. Any technician familiar with the present invention may use the above disclosure to change or modify it into an equivalent embodiment with equivalent changes. However, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiment based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of protection of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A channel-type guide plate based on an inverted conical orifice plate structure, characterized in that: The channel-type flow guide plate comprises a capillary porous plate (1a) and a groove (1b); a plurality of micron-level inverted cone-shaped capillary holes are arranged on the capillary porous plate (1a) by single-sided laser drilling, and the aperture is relatively large on the side close to the inner wall of the storage tank (4); the capillary porous plate (1a) plays the role of retaining liquid and serving as a gas barrier in the channel-type flow guide plate (1); the capillary porous plate (1a) and the groove (1b) are connected by welding; the channel-type flow guide plate (1) is connected to the liquid reservoir (3) at the bottom of the storage tank (4) through a bracket (2); the channel-type flow guide plate (1) is arranged parallel to the inner wall of the storage tank (4) and extends along the inner wall to the top of the storage tank (4); the capillary porous plate (1a) is on the side of the channel-type flow guide plate (1) close to the wall of the storage tank (4), and a certain gap is set between the capillary porous plate (1a) and the inner wall of the storage tank (4).

2. The guide plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The channel-type guide plate (1) is an arc-shaped rectangular plate with a trapezoidal cross-section and a hollow interior, capable of forming a closed channel for the flow of propellant.

3. The guide plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: Micron-scale inverted cone-shaped capillary pores are evenly and staggeredly arranged on the capillary porous plate (1a), and a certain distance is set between each pore.

4. The guide plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The structural shape of the groove (1b) matches the structural shape of the capillary porous plate (1a).

5. The guide plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are four channel-type guide plates (1), and the angle between adjacent guide plates is 90°.

6. The guide plate according to claim 3, characterized in that: The aperture is 0.01mm~0.1mm.

7. The guide plate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The bubble bursting pressure of the inverted cone capillary pores is not less than , is the surface tension of the propellant liquid.

8. The guide plate according to claim 3, characterized in that: The distance between the centers of the small holes is 0.5mm~1mm.

9. The guide plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: The thickness of the groove (1b) and the capillary porous plate (1a) are both 1 mm.

10. The guide plate according to claim 1, characterized in that The gap between the capillary porous plate (1a) and the inner wall of the storage box (4) is 2 mm to 8 mm.

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