Measurement of tank level, particularly for cryogenic propellants, has proven to be a difficult proposition. Current methods based on differential pressure, capacitance sensors, temperature sensors, etc.; do not provide sufficiently accurate or robust measurements, especially at run time. This paper describes a simple, but effective method to determine propellant volume by measuring very small deformations of the structure supporting the tank. Results of a laboratory study to validate the method, and experimental data from a deployed system are presented. A comparison with an existing differential pressure sensor shows that the strain gage system provides a very good quality signal even during pressurization.
Strain Gage Measurement System to Determine Cryogenic Propellant Tank Level
39th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference ; 2003 ; Huntsville, AL, United States
2003-07-20
Conference paper
No indication
English
Composite cryogenic propellant tank development
AIAA | 1994
|Composite cryogenic propellant tank development
Tema Archive | 1994
|Advanced cryogenic propellant tank development status
NTRS | 1992
|Advanced cryogenic propellant tank development status
AIAA | 1992
|