MODELING AND SIMULATION OF A CLASS OF LIQUID PROPELLANT ENGINE PRESSURIZATION SYSTEMS

Abstract In this paper, a new approach for modeling a class of pressurization systems for liquid propellant engines is presented. High pressure gas stored in special capsules is injected in a controlled way onto the gas volume on top of the propellant tanks. Instantaneous pressure and temperature values of propellant tanks and the capsules are computed. The computed constitutive values are compared with experimental results. The modeling approach accounts for variations of pressure and density of the pressurant inside the capsules and propellant tanks. It also accounts for heat transfer between pressurant and its surroundings. Equations for determination of the pressurant shut-down time are developed. Similarly, equations for determination of the propellant pump inlet pressure are also derived. The final governing equations are in terms of a set of differential equations that are numerically solved using the modified Euler method. The primary application of this research is to determine the pressurization system exit pressure. In case of turbo-pump feed systems, this work may be used to detect the occurrence of the cavitation phenomenon in the pumps. The method is limited to: (1) thermally insulated propellant tanks and (2) use of several storage capsules that are made of insulating composite material (i.e., exit mass flow rate is small, pressurant is stored at high pressure and low volume, temperature variations are small, and pressure drop in the capsules is not appreciable).

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