An experimental study was conducted to evaluate propellant behavior in spinning torroidal tanks that could be used in a retropropulsion system of an advanced outer-planet Pioneer orbiter. Information on propellant slosh and settling and on ullage orientation and stability was obtained. The effects of axial acceleration, spin rate, spin-rate change, and spacecraft wobble, both singly and in combination, were evaluated using a one-eighth scale transparent tank in one-g and low-g environments. Liquid loadings ranged from 5% to 96% full. The impact of a surface tension acquisition device was assessed by comparison with bare-tank results. The testing simulated the behavior of the fluorine/hydrazine and nitrogen textroxide/monomethylhydrazine propellants. Results are presented that indicate that no major fluid behavior problems would be encountered with any of the four propellants in the toroidal tanks of a spin-stabilized orbiter spacecraft.


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    Title :

    Fluid interaction with spinning toroidal tanks


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    1977-12-01


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Evaluation of Fluid Behavior in Spinning Toroidal Tanks

    J. E. Anderson / D. A. Fester / D. W. Dugan | AIAA | 1977


    Evaluation of fluid behavior in spinning toroidal tanks

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