초록 ▼

Liquid storage systems for space vehicles include at least one storage tank including a tank inlet, a tank outlet, and a plurality of liquid storage compartments coupled to each other in series between the tank inlet and the tank outlet. Each liquid storage compartment includes an end plate includin

Liquid storage systems for space vehicles include at least one storage tank including a tank inlet, a tank outlet, and a plurality of liquid storage compartments coupled to each other in series between the tank inlet and the tank outlet. Each liquid storage compartment includes an end plate including a porous outlet at an end of the liquid storage compartment adjacent to another liquid storage compartment. Propulsion systems for space vehicles include at least one such liquid storage tank. Methods of providing a liquid propellant to a thruster of a space vehicle include withdrawing a liquid propellant from a first compartment within a tank and flowing the liquid propellant from a second compartment into the first compartment through a porous element associated with an end plate separating the first compartment from the second compartment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A liquid storage system for a space vehicle, the liquid storage system comprising: at least one liquid storage tank, comprising: a tank inlet;a tank outlet for withdrawing a liquid from within the at least one liquid storage tank;a plurality of liquid storage compartments coupled to each other in

1. A liquid storage system for a space vehicle, the liquid storage system comprising: at least one liquid storage tank, comprising: a tank inlet;a tank outlet for withdrawing a liquid from within the at least one liquid storage tank;a plurality of liquid storage compartments coupled to each other in series between the tank inlet and the tank outlet, each liquid storage compartment of the plurality of liquid storage compartments comprising: an end plate comprising a porous outlet at an end of the liquid storage compartment adjacent to another liquid storage compartment; andone or more fins disposed within each liquid storage compartment, each of the one or more fins being coupled to a respective end plate of a respective liquid storage compartment and extending from an outer peripheral portion of the respective end plate and over the porous outlet of the end plate. 2. The liquid storage system of claim 1, further comprising a source of pressurized gas coupled to and in fluid communication with the tank inlet. 3. The liquid storage system of claim 2, wherein the source of pressurized gas comprises a volume defined by a shell at least partially surrounding the at least one liquid storage tank. 4. The liquid storage system of claim 2, wherein the source of pressurized gas comprises at least one of a tank containing pressurized gas operably connected to the liquid storage compartments, a pump, or a gas generator. 5. The liquid storage system of claim 1, wherein the one or more fins extend away from the porous outlet of the end plate toward an interior of the liquid storage compartment. 6. The liquid storage system of claim 5, wherein the one or more fins within each liquid storage compartment comprises multiple fins extending inwardly from an outer wall of the respective liquid storage compartment, the fins meeting at a center of the liquid storage compartment. 7. The liquid storage system of claim 1, wherein each liquid storage compartment comprises a solid end plate circumscribing the porous outlet. 8. The liquid storage system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of liquid storage compartments comprises at least a first liquid storage compartment connected to at least a second liquid storage compartment in series, the porous outlet of the first liquid storage compartment serving as a porous inlet of the second liquid storage compartment. 9. The liquid storage system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of liquid storage compartments comprises at least one cylindrical stack of liquid storage compartments. 10. The liquid storage system of claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid storage tank comprises a first liquid storage tank and at least a second liquid storage tank of substantially the same configuration as the first liquid storage tank, the tank outlet of the first liquid storage tank being in fluid communication with a tank inlet of the second liquid storage tank. 11. A propulsion system for a space vehicle, the propulsion system comprising: a liquid storage system, comprising: at least one liquid storage tank including: a first liquid storage compartment;a second liquid storage compartment coupled to the first liquid storage compartment and to an outlet;an end plate comprising a porous element separating the first liquid storage compartment and the second liquid storage compartment, the porous element comprising a plurality of pores sized and configured for passage of a liquid from the first liquid storage compartment to the second liquid storage compartment responsive to a pressure differential across the porous element and to substantially inhibit passage of the liquid from the second liquid storage compartment to the first liquid storage compartment upon sloshing of the liquid in the second liquid storage compartment against the porous element; andone or more fins disposed within the first liquid storage compartment, the one or more fins being coupled to the end plate and extending from an outer peripheral portion of the end plate and over the porous outlet of the end plate; andone or more thrusters operably coupled to the outlet of the liquid storage system. 12. The propulsion system of claim 11, wherein the porous element comprises a plate including a plurality of substantially circular pores perforating the plate. 13. The propulsion system of claim 11, further comprising one or more additional fins within the second liquid storage compartment, wherein the one or more fins and the one or more additional fins are located and configured to inhibit sloshing of a liquid within the first liquid storage compartment and within the second liquid storage compartment. 14. The propulsion system of claim 11, wherein the at least one liquid storage tank further comprises an inlet, and wherein the propulsion system further comprises a source of pressurized gas in fluid communication with the inlet. 15. The propulsion system of claim 11, further comprising a liquid level gauging system, comprising: a first temperature sensor positioned within the first liquid storage compartment;a second temperature sensor positioned within the second liquid storage compartment; andat least one heat source positioned adjacent to the first liquid storage compartment and to the second liquid storage compartment. 16. A method of providing a liquid propellant to a thruster of a space vehicle in a low-gravity environment, the method comprising: withdrawing a liquid propellant from a first compartment within a tank to induce a pressure differential across an end plate separating the first compartment from an adjacent second compartment;flowing the liquid propellant from the second compartment into the first compartment through a porous element associated with the end plate in response to the induced pressure differential; andflowing the liquid propellant from the second compartment into the first compartment over at least one fin extending over the porous element and disposed within the second compartment. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising flowing a gas into the second compartment to backfill the second compartment as the liquid propellant is flowed from the second compartment into the first compartment. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising substantially fully draining the second compartment of the liquid propellant into the first compartment before flowing a gas into the first compartment to backfill the first compartment as the liquid propellant is withdrawn therefrom. 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising flowing the liquid propellant from a third compartment into the second compartment through another porous element associated with another end plate separating the second compartment from the third compartment. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein withdrawing the liquid propellant from the first compartment comprises opening a valve coupled to an outlet of the tank.