Configuration for Propellant Gauging in Satellites

Lal, Amit and Raghunandan, BN (2007) Configuration for Propellant Gauging in Satellites. In: Journal of Space Craft and Rockets, 44 (1). pp. 143-146.

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Abstract

Accurate propellant gauging is of prime importance insatellite industries. This paper explores the possibility of using a new propellant tank configuration, consisting of a truncated cone centrally mounted within a spherical propellant tank, to measure the amount of liquid propellant present within the tank. The liquid propellant present within the propellant tank orients itself in geometry by virtue of its dominant surface tension force in 0 g condition, which minimizes its total surface energy. This study reveals that the amount of liquid propellant present in the tank can thus be estimated by measuring the height of the propellant meniscus within the central cone. It is also observed that, for the proposed configuration, the precision of the estimated propellant fill-fraction increases towards the end of life of the spacecraft.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Journal of Space Craft and Rockets
Publisher:	American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Aerospace Engineering(Formerly Aeronautical Engineering)
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2007
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:36
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/10534

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