The ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) disposes of 8 spherically shaped propellant tanks with an inner diameter of 1174 mm. Tank suspension is realized with an equator ring machined from a seamless Ti-6-4 ELI raw ring. A special propellant management device (PMD) is integrated via the polar interfaces, which are machined from Ti-6-4. The lower polar interface contains a stub for the Ti-6-4 propellant port, which is orbit welded upon completion of all other welding operations. The PMD has to maintain gas-free propellant delivery to the engines under μ-g as well as special acceleration conditions typical of the ATV. This PMD including its polar suspension has been designed by EADS-ST and is manufactured on their premises in Bremen, where the integration with the equator ring subassembly is performed. This subassembly including the Ti-6-4 ASD (anti-sloshing device), is manufactured and welded at MAN Technologie, utilizing both TIG-welding and EB-welding in the heat conduction mode.
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