Indicators of efficiency of liquid nitrogen fuel cooling in tanks with integrated heat exchangers

Abstract

The paper describes the fuel cooling system which uses liquid nitrogen in the tanks of ground complexes equipped with integrated heat exchangers. We analyzed the characteristics of cooling liquid fuel in tanks with integrated heat exchangers filled with antifreeze, when sparging antifreeze with liquid nitrogen. As a result of the analysis, we introduced the indicators to assess the efficiency of the considered technical solutions in comparison with the existing options for constructing these systems. Furthermore, we developed a mathematical model of the cooling process in the form of a system of equations for temporary changes in the temperature of antifreeze and fuel, including the changes at various modes of fuel mixing. The paper gives the results of studies carried out in order to increase the efficiency of fuel cooling processes at various flow rates of liquid nitrogen by organizing the processes of its heat exchange with the surfaces of the integrated heat exchanger and the use of various types of antifreeze.