Fluid Pump Propellant Transfer for Spacecraft Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for refueling spacecraft thrusters with chemical propellants face challenges such as requiring significant time and complex designs to force propellant against pressurant pressure, or result in wasteful venting of pressurant, necessitating additional reloading.
Innovation Solution
A chemical propellant storage and supply system that uses a fluid pump to move propellant within the system at selected pressures, eliminating the need for a gaseous pressurant and allowing for refueling and propellant transfer between multiple tanks, with redundant fluid pumps for reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If propellant is forced into the spacecraft against pressurant pressure, then refueling can be performed, but the process takes significant time and requires complex servicer spacecraft designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pressurant gas from the system by using a pump-driven transfer mechanism. Instead of relying on pressurant pressure to force propellant transfer, the system uses a pump to actively transfer propellant between tanks, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and enabling faster refueling operations without complex servicer spacecraft designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical pressurant-driven transfer mechanism with an active pump-driven transfer system. This substitution allows for controlled, rapid propellant transfer without relying on high-pressure gas dynamics, thereby reducing system complexity and improving refueling efficiency
2Productivity
If pressurant pressure is reduced by venting, then propellant can be refueled, but the pressurant is lost and requires additional reloading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pressurant gas phase from the system entirely by using a pump-driven liquid transfer mechanism. This eliminates the need to vent pressurant during refueling operations, preventing pressurant loss and the subsequent need for reloading, while still enabling effective propellant transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter from pressure-driven (pressurant gas pressure) to pump-driven (mechanical pumping). This parameter change allows refueling to occur without venting, as the pump can actively transfer propellant at controlled pressures without requiring the system to be depressurized
3Quantity of substance
If pressurant is used to hold propellant in the tank, then propellant can be stored, but the system becomes complex and requires venting and reloading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressurant gas from the propellant storage system and replaces it with a pump-driven transfer mechanism. This allows propellant to be stored in the tank without requiring pressurant gas, eliminating the associated complexity of pressurant management, venting operations, and reloading procedures while maintaining effective propellant storage capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and reliable refueling and propellant management, reducing the need for pressurant venting and allowing for propellant storage at lower pressures, thereby extending spacecraft operational life without the complexity of traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pump for moving chemical propellant within the system components at selected pressures
Data Source
AI summary
Chemical propellant storage and supply systems and methods for use on spacecraft are provided. The systems and methods include a fluid pump for moving chemical propellant within the system at selected pressures. This can include operating the fluid pump to supply propellant to a thruster system at a selected pressure. A fuel tank can be refilled by connecting a propellant resupply source to the system, and operating the fluid pump to move propellant from the propellant resupply source to the fuel tank. In a system with multiple fuel tanks, the fluid pump can be operated to move propellant from a donor fuel tank to a recipient fuel tank. The chemical propellant can be stored in one or more fuel tanks at a relatively low pressure. In addition, the chemical propellant is not pressurized by a gaseous pressurant while it is stored in the fuel tank.