Method and apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel aboard a spacecraft
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01F-022/02
B64G-001/66
출원번호
US-0296920
(2007-04-04)
등록번호
US-8196481
(2012-06-12)
우선권정보
DE-10 2006 017 811 (2006-04-13)
국제출원번호
PCT/DE2007/000612
(2007-04-04)
§371/§102 date
20090601
(20090601)
국제공개번호
WO2007/118453
(2007-10-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Peukert, Markus
Simon, Dieter
출원인 / 주소
Astrium GmbH
대리인 / 주소
Crowell & Moring LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
8
초록▼
A method and apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel aboard a spacecraft under weightless conditions utilize at least one orifice, at least one flow latch valve for the selection of an orifice to be used, and at least one control valve for releasing a stream of a pressurizing gas from at least on
A method and apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel aboard a spacecraft under weightless conditions utilize at least one orifice, at least one flow latch valve for the selection of an orifice to be used, and at least one control valve for releasing a stream of a pressurizing gas from at least one high-pressure tank in order to restore pressure in a fuel tank following a pressure reduction due to withdrawal of fuel. The amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is determined based on the time required to restore fuel tank pressure by a flow of gas from the high pressure tank to the fuel tank, via the orifice.
대표청구항▼
1. Apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel aboard a spacecraft under weightless conditions, said apparatus comprising: at least one orifice;at least one flow latch valve for selecting an orifice;at least one control valve for releasing a stream of a pressurizing gas from at least one high-pressur
1. Apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel aboard a spacecraft under weightless conditions, said apparatus comprising: at least one orifice;at least one flow latch valve for selecting an orifice;at least one control valve for releasing a stream of a pressurizing gas from at least one high-pressure tank to supply pressure to at least one fuel tank that contains said fuel, via said orifice that is selected; andmeasurement and calculation means for determining an amount of fuel of the at least one fuel tank based on a measured first pressure, a measured first temperature, and a measured first vapor pressure of the at least one fuel tank prior to releasing the stream of pressuring gas from the at least one high-pressure tank,a measured time period of the supply of pressurizing gas from the at least one high-pressure tank to the at least one fuel tank,a measured second pressure, a measured second temperature, and a measured second vapor pressure of the at least one fuel tank after completion of the supply of pressurizing gas from the at least one high-pressure tank to the at least one fuel tank,a measured third averaged pressure, a measured third averaged temperature, and a fuel tank volume as a function of the internal pressure of the high-pressure tank, anda temperature-dependent fuel density, an orifice coefficient and a parameter that takes into account the dependence of the critical flow on the supply pressure. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one check/latch valve for selecting the at least one fuel tank. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control valve is closed when a desired pressure has been reached in at least one fuel tank to be pressurized. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one control valve is closed by telecommand. 5. The apparatus claim 1, wherein the at least one orifice, the at least one latch valve and the at least one control valve are configured in a redundant fashion. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of fuel is determined by means of the formulas mProp:=p1-pVIT1·VT(p1)-p2-pV2)T2·VT(p2)+delta_mHe·Rp1-pV1T1·rho(T1)-p2-pV2T2·rho(T2)withdelta_mHe:=dt·K·pHec·[1R·THe·[(aTHe-b)+1pHe]]12andVT(p):=V0+aV·pandrho(T):=rho20·[1+αProp·(T-293)]. 7. A method of measuring the amount of fuel aboard a spacecraft under weightless conditions, said method comprising: opening at least one latch valve for selecting an orifice;releasing a stream of a pressurizing gas via the selected orifice, from at least one high-pressure tank having at least one control valve; anddetermining an amount of fuel of the at least one fuel tank based on a measured first pressure, a measured first temperature, and a measured first vapor pressure of the at least one fuel tank prior to releasing the stream of pressuring gas from the at least one high-pressure tank,a measured time period of the supply of pressurizing gas from the at least one high-pressure tank to the at least one fuel tank,a measured second pressure, a measured second temperature, and a measured second vapor pressure of the at least one fuel tank after completion of the supply of pressurizing gas from the at least one high-pressure tank to the at least one fuel tank,a measured third averaged pressure, a measured third averaged temperature, and a fuel tank volume as a function of the internal pressure of the high-pressure tank, anda temperature-dependent fuel density, an orifice coefficient and a parameter that takes into account the dependence of the critical flow on the supply pressure. 8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: opening at least one check/latch valve for selecting at least one fuel tank to be pressurized. 9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: releasing a stream of a pressurizing gas from at least one high-pressure tank having at least one control valve. 10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising closing the at least one control valve when a desired pressure has been reached in at least one fuel tank. 11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the amount of fuel is determined by means of the formulas mProp:=p1-pVIT1·VT(p1)-p2-pV2)T2·VT(p2)+delta_mHe·Rp1-pV1T1·rho(T1)-p2-pV2T2·rho(T2)withdelta_mHe:=dt·K·pHec·[1R·THe·[(aTHe-b)+1pHe]]12andVT(p):=V0+aV·pandrho(T):=rho20·[1+αProp·(T-293)].
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (8)
Delepierre-Massue Olivier,FRX ; Fevrier Claude,FRX ; Salome Roland,FRX ; Le Torrivellec Pierre,FRX, Device for pressurizing a unified two-liquid propulsion subsystem geostationary satellites.
Brauer Laura E. (Lawrence Township ; Mercer County NJ) Chun Siu H. (Langhorne PA) Davies Keith (Robbinsville NJ) Pulkowski Joseph A. (East Amwell Township ; Hunterdon County NJ), Method for measuring the mass of liquid in a storage tank.
Smith, Gregory H.; Martinez, Julio C.; Teran, Fernando C.; Reyes, Romy Andrade; Pauley, B. Wayne; Watkins, Randall W., Valve controller for pressure stabilization.
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