초록 ▼

A propellant measurement system 10 capable of accurate propellant measurement within a low gravity environment is disclosed herein. The propellant measurement system 10 of the present invention includes a pressurization tank 20 of a first volume Vp for enclosing a pressurization gas at a first press

A propellant measurement system 10 capable of accurate propellant measurement within a low gravity environment is disclosed herein. The propellant measurement system 10 of the present invention includes a pressurization tank 20 of a first volume Vp for enclosing a pressurization gas at a first pressure Pp. The propellent measurement system 10 further includes a propellant tank 40 of a second volumre for storing propellant matter at a second pressure Pu, the first pressure Pp being chosen to be larger than the second pressure Pu. A valve apparatus 60 in communication with the pressurization and fuel tanks 20 and 40 allows a portion of the pressurization gas to flow into the fuel tank 40. Pressure gauges 65 and 70 sense changes in the first and second pressures Pp and Pu in response to the flowing of the pressurization gas.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of measuring the volume of a propellant VL enclosed at a first pressure PU within a first tank of a first volume VT, where the tank volume VT is equal to the volume of the propellant VL plus an ullage volume VU, said method comprising the steps of: (a) enclosing a pressurization gas of a se

A method of measuring the volume of a propellant VL enclosed at a first pressure PU within a first tank of a first volume VT, where the tank volume VT is equal to the volume of the propellant VL plus an ullage volume VU, said method comprising the steps of: (a) enclosing a pressurization gas of a second volume Vp in a second tank at a second pressure Pp, said second pressure Pp being greater than said first pressure PU; (b) injecting a portion of said pressurization gas into said first tank; (c) measuring the changes in said first and second pressure dPU and DPp respectively in response to said injection of said pressurization gas; (d) measuring the temperatures of said ullage volume TU and said pressurization gas Tp; (e) calculating the ullage volume VU of said first tank using said change in said first and second pressures dPU and dPp respectively in conjunction with said first and second volumes VT and Vp respectively in accordance with the following equation: Vu≡(Tu/Tp)*(dPp*Vp/dPu); and (f) subracting said ullage volume Vu from said first VT volume to determine said propellant volume VL.