NASA LogoNTRSNTRS - NASA Technical Reports ServerSearchmore_vertCollectionsAboutNewsHelpLogin Back to ResultsModeling Xenon Tank Pressurization using One-Dimensional Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer EquationsAs a first step in understanding what ground support equipment (GSE) is required to provide external cooling during the loading of 5,000 kg of xenon into 4 aluminum lined composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), a modeling analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel. The goals of the analysis were to predict xenon temperature and pressure throughout loading at the launch facility, estimate the time required to load one tank, and to get an early estimate of what provisions for cooling xenon might be needed while the tanks are being filled. The model uses the governing thermodynamic and heat transfer equations to achieve these goals. Results indicate that a single tank can be loaded in about 15 hours with reasonable external coolant requirements. The model developed in this study was successfully validated against flight and test data. The first data set is from the Dawn mission which also utilizes solar electric propulsion with xenon propellant, and the second is test data from the rapid loading of a hydrogen cylindrical COPV. The main benefit of this type of model is that the governing physical equations using bulk fluid solid temperatures can provide a quick and accurate estimate of the state of the propellant throughout loading which is much cheaper in terms of computational time and licensing costs than a Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis while capturing the majority of the thermodynamics and heat transfer.Document ID20170004518Acquisition SourceGlenn Research CenterDocument TypeConference PaperAuthorsGilligan, Ryan P.*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)*Tomsik, Thomas M.*(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)*Date AcquiredMay 10, 2017Publication DateApril 1, 2017Subject CategoryFluid Mechanics And ThermodynamicsPropellants And FuelsReport/Patent NumberE-19317GRC-E-DAA-TN36222NASA/TM-2017-219420Meeting InformationMeeting: Thermal and Fluid Analysis Workshop (TFAWS) 2016Location: Moffet Field, CACountry: United StatesStart Date: August 1, 2016End Date: August 5, 2016Sponsors:NASA Ames Research CenterFunding Number(s)WBS: WBS 729200.06.03.05Distribution LimitsPublicCopyrightWork of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.KeywordsThermodynamic tank modelingXenon transferXenon storageAsteroid Redirect Robotic Mission (ARRM)Propellant loadingCylinder refuelingAvailable DownloadsNameType20170004518.pdfSTIcloud_downloadcontent_copyvisibilityRelated RecordsIDRelationTitle20170003928See AlsoModeling ARRM Xenon Tank Pressurization Using 1D Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer Equationsvisibility_offNo Preview Available
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