Thermally coupled liquid oxygen and liquid methane storage vessel

A cryogenic propellant storage tank system and method are disclosed that thermally couple LO2 and LCH4 tanks together by using either a single tank compartmentalized by a common tank wall or two separate tanks that are coupled together with one or more thermal couplers having high thermal conductivi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors GRAYSON GARY D, HAND MICHAEL L, CADY EDWIN C
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 04.08.2009
Subjects
BLASTING
FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED,LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS
HEATING
LIGHTING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
STORING OF DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED ORSOLIDIFIED GASES
WEAPONS
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Summary:A cryogenic propellant storage tank system and method are disclosed that thermally couple LO2 and LCH4 tanks together by using either a single tank compartmentalized by a common tank wall or two separate tanks that are coupled together with one or more thermal couplers having high thermal conductivity. Cryogenic cooling equipment may be located only in the LO2 tank while the LCH4 is cooled by the LO2 tank interface. Embodiments of the invention may employ both LO2 and LCH4 liquid acquisition devices (LADs) for low-gravity use. In further embodiments, only the LO2 LADs may be integrated with thermal cooling equipment.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20060359853