Cryogenic Boil-Off Reduction System Testing

Plachta, David W.; Johnson, Wesley L.; Feller, J. R.

doi:10.2514/6.2014-3579

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The project first tested a system that used a system of plastic stand-offs directly mounted to the tank wall, similar to the PSRD solution. 9 Due to concern that the system of plastic stand-offs would greatly increase the heat load onto the tank, a structural insulation task was initiated in concert with the Game-Changing Technology Program. The basis for the structural insulation system was the Integrated Multilayer Insulation (IMLI) and Load-Responsive Multilayer Insulation (LR-MLI) developed by Quest Thermal Group and Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation in cooperation with NASA.…”

Section: A Reduced Boil-off Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tank Applied Testing of Load-Bearing Multilayer Insulation (LB-MLI)

Johnson

Valenzuela

Feller

et al. 2014

50th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference

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The development of long duration orbital cryogenic storage systems will require the reduction of heat loads into the storage tank. In the case of liquid hydrogen, complete elimination of the heat load at 20 K is currently impractical due to the limitations in lift available on flight cryocoolers. In order to reduce the heat load, without having to remove heat at 20 K, the concept of Reduced Boil-Off uses cooled shields within the insulation system at approximately 90 K. The development of Load-Bearing Multilayer Insulation (LB-MLI) allowed the 90 K shield with tubing and cryocooler attachments to be suspended within the MLI and still be structurally stable. Coupon testing, both thermal and structural was performed to verify that the LB-MLI should work at the tank applied level. Then tank applied thermal and structural (acoustic) testing was performed to demonstrate the functionality of the LB-MLI as a structural insulation system. The LB-MLI showed no degradation of thermal performance due to the acoustic testing and showed excellent thermal performance when integrated with a 90 K class cryocooler on a liquid hydrogen tank.

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Section: A Reduced Boil-off Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 The mass of the BAC shield was approximately 8.6 kg (19 lbm), most of which was due to the 6 mm (0.25 inch) stainless steel tubing. The tubing was attached to a thin aluminum shield (5 mil) that was perforated for evacuation.…”

Section: Broad Area Cooled Shield and Outer Multilayer Insulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tank Applied Testing of Load-Bearing Multilayer Insulation (LB-MLI)

Johnson

Valenzuela

Feller

et al. 2014

50th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference

Self Cite

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“…This was demonstrated on a tank without the vacuum capability and holding up a broad area cooled shield in 2012 at Glenn Research Center, Quest called this implementation Load Bearing MLI (LB-MLI) (see Figure 9). 9 For lack of a better term, in this study, the Quest product evaluated is referred to as LR-MLI.…”

Section: F Quest Load Responsive Multilayer Insulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation into Cryogenic Tank Insulation Systems for the Mars Surface Environment

Johnson

Hauser

Banker

et al. 2018

2018 Joint Propulsion Conference

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In order to use oxygen that is produced on the surface of Mars from In-Situ production processes in a chemical propulsion system, the oxygen must first be converted from vapor phase to liquid phase and then stored within the propellant tanks of the propulsions system. The oxygen must then be stored in the liquid phase for several years between when the liquefaction operations are initiated and when the ascent stage lifts off the Martian surface. Since the Space Exploration Initiative, NASA has been investing small sums of money into soft vacuum systems for Mars Applications. 1 A study was done into these various insulation systems for soft vacuum insulation, to determine what types of systems might be best to further pursue. Five different architectures or cycles were considered: Aerogel based multilayer Insulation (MLAI), Space Evacuated Mars Vacuum Jacket (SEMOV) (also known as lightweight vacuum jacket), Load Responsive-Multilayer Insulation, Spray on Foam with multilayer insulation, and MLAI in SEMOV. Models of each architecture were developed to give insight into the performance and losses of each of the options. The results were then compared across six categories: Insulation System Mass, Active System Power (both input and heat rejection), Insulation System Cost, Manufacturability, Reliability, and Operational Flexibility. The result was that a trade between reliability and mass was clearly identified. Systems with high mass, also had high perceived reliability; whereas, systems with lower mass and power had a much lower perceived reliability. In the end, the numerical trades of these systems showed nominally identical rankings. As a result it is recommended that NASA focus its Martian insulation development activities on demonstrating and improving the reliability of the lightweight identified systems.

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NASA cryocooler technology developments and goals to achieve zero boil-off and to liquefy cryogenic propellants for space exploration

et al. 2018

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NASA's interest in human exploration of Mars has driven it to invest in 20K cryocooler technology to achieve zero boil-off of liquid hydrogen and 90K cryocooler technology to achieve zero boil-off liquid oxygen or liquid methane as well as to liquefy oxygen or methane that is produced on the surface of Mars. These investments have demonstrated efficiency progress, mass reductions, and integration insights. A history of the application of cryocooler technology to zero boil-off propellant storage is presented. A trade space on distributed cooling is shown, along with the progress of reverse turbo-Brayton cycle cryocoolers, where the specific power and specific mass have dropped, decreasing the mass and power of these cryocoolers. Additionally, the cryocooler technology advancements of recuperators and compressors are described. Finally, NASA's development ideas with respect to zero boil-off technology are discussed.

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Cryogenic Boil-Off Reduction System Testing

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

Tank Applied Testing of Load-Bearing Multilayer Insulation (LB-MLI)

Tank Applied Testing of Load-Bearing Multilayer Insulation (LB-MLI)

Investigation into Cryogenic Tank Insulation Systems for the Mars Surface Environment

NASA cryocooler technology developments and goals to achieve zero boil-off and to liquefy cryogenic propellants for space exploration

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