US 12,012,233 B2 · Active on orbit fluid propellant management and refueling systems and methods

Abstract

Chemical propellant storage and supply systems and methods for use on spacecraft are provided. The systems and methods include a fluid pump for moving chemical propellant within the system at selected pressures. This can include operating the fluid pump to supply propellant to a thruster system at a selected pressure. A fuel tank can be refilled by connecting a propellant resupply source to the system, and operating the fluid pump to move propellant from the propellant resupply source to the fuel tank. In a system with multiple fuel tanks, the fluid pump can be operated to move propellant from a donor fuel tank to a recipient fuel tank. The chemical propellant can be stored in one or more fuel tanks at a relatively low pressure. In addition, the chemical propellant is not pressurized by a gaseous pressurant while it is stored in the fuel tank.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a fuel tank;
a thruster system;
a propellant supply conduit, wherein the propellant supply conduit extends between the fuel tank and the thruster system;
a propellant supply valve, wherein the propellant supply valve is located along the propellant supply conduit;
a fluid pump, wherein the fluid pump is located along the propellant supply conduit between the propellant supply valve and the thruster system;
a fill/drain conduit, wherein the fill/drain conduit is joined to the propellant supply conduit at a first tee located between the propellant supply valve and the fluid pump;
a refueling conduit, wherein the refueling conduit is joined to the propellant supply conduit at a second tee located between the fluid pump and the thruster system, and wherein the refueling conduit extends to a third tee connected to the propellant supply conduit between the fuel tank and the propellant supply valve;
and
a refueling valve, wherein the refueling valve is located along the refueling conduit.

6 more elements

A method for operating a propellant system, comprising:

storing a propellant in a fuel tank, wherein the propellant is stored in the fuel tank at a first pressure;
placing the fuel tank in communication with an inlet of a fluid pump;
operating the fluid pump to supply propellant from the fuel tank to a thruster system at a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure, and wherein the propellant is supplied from the fuel tank to the thruster system by a propellant supply conduit;
connecting a propellant resupply source to the inlet of the fluid pump, wherein the propellant resupply source is connected to a first end of a fill/drain conduit, and wherein a second end of the fill/drain conduit is joined to the propellant supply conduit at a first tee located between the fuel tank and the inlet of the fluid pump;
placing the fuel tank in communication with an outlet of the fluid pump via a refueling conduit, wherein a first end of the refueling conduit is connected to the outlet of the fluid pump, and wherein a second end of the refueling conduit is connected to the fuel tank;
and
operating the fluid pump to move propellant from the propellant resupply source to the fuel tank via the refueling conduit.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Active on orbit fluid propellant management and refueling systems and methods

Life of this patent

Active on orbit fluid propellant management and refueling systems and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19