Test data analysis of the liquid hydrogen chilldown and fill transfer experiments on a flightweight aluminum tank

Abstract

Future long duration manned missions beyond Low Earth Orbit will likely require efficient methods with which to transfer cryogenic propellant from a depot storage tank to a customer spacecraft. An essential component of the refueling process is the chilldown and fill of the customer receiver tank, which must be performed by minimizing consumed propellant and/or transfer time. This paper presents test data analysis of cryogenic liquid hydrogen propellant transfer tests conducted on a thin-walled flightweight aluminum tank at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Four tests were conducted to assess the feasibility of a rapid chilldown and fill method used to minimize total transfer time. Pressure, temperature, fill level, and flow rate data are presented to examine the two-phase flow boiling and heat transfer as the test rapidly evolves. Test results show that three of the four tests were successful at accomplishing a final fill level of >90% in less than five minutes.