초록 ▼

A system for providing cryogenic sub-critical liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to storage tanks and payloads contained inside the payload bay of a space vehicle is described. The system provides for transferring cryogenic fluid from a supercritical storage tank to a subcritical storage tank or payl

A system for providing cryogenic sub-critical liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to storage tanks and payloads contained inside the payload bay of a space vehicle is described. The system provides for transferring cryogenic fluid from a supercritical storage tank to a subcritical storage tank or payload in a zero-g environment, wherein the H2 and O2 ignition hazard has been eliminated due to the low vacuum pressure operating environment. The system includes an external heat exchanger, for example, a parallel flow concentric tube design, and a temperature control system for re-condensing the two-phase transfer fluid expelled from the supercritical storage system into a single phase, sub-cooled cryogenic fluid which is then introduced into and stored within the subcritical storage tank.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cryogenic fluid transfer system for transferring a cryogenic fluid from a supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system, comprising:a first subcritical cryogenic fluid storage system for receiving the cryogenic fluid from the supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system; a conduit for providing

1. A cryogenic fluid transfer system for transferring a cryogenic fluid from a supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system, comprising:a first subcritical cryogenic fluid storage system for receiving the cryogenic fluid from the supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system; a conduit for providing fluid communication between the supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system and the first subcritical fluid storage system; and a heat exchanger assembly in contact with the conduit, the heat exchanger assembly located downstream of the supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system and upstream of the first subcritical fluid storage system; wherein the heat exchanger assembly cools the cryogenic fluid expelled from the supercritical cryogenic fluid storage system prior to the cryogenic fluid being introduced into the first subcritical fluid storage system.