MODELING AND TEST DATA ANALYSIS OF A TANK RAPID CHILL AND FILL SYSTEM FOR THE ADVANCED SHUTTLE UPPER STAGE (ASUS) CONCEPT

摘要

The Advanced Shuttle Upper Stage (ASUS) concept addresses safety concerns associated with cryogenic stages by launching empty, and filling on ascent. The ASUS employs a rapid chill and fill concept, where a spray bar is used to completely chill the tank before fill. Thus the vent valve can be closed during the fill process. The first tests of this concept, using a flight size (not flight weight) tank, were conducted at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) during the summer of 2000. The objectives of the testing were to: 1. Demonstrate that a flight size tank could be filled in roughly 5 minutes to accommodate the shuttle ascent window, 2. Demonstrate a no-vent fill of the tank, and 3. Gather data to validate analytical models. A total of fourteen tests were conducted. Models of the test facility fill and vent systems, as well as the tank, were constructed. The objective of achieving tank fill in 5 minutes was met during the test series. However, liquid began to accumulate in the tank before it was chilled. Since the tank was not chilled until the end of each test, vent valve closure during fill was not possible. Even though the chill and fill process did not occur as expected, reasonable model correlation with the test data was achieved.