Zero gravity liquid-vapor separation system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsTibor Istvan Lak, Andrew Tibor Lak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid-vapor separation system for use in a zero gravity environment for transferring and storing fluids, and particularly fluids that are primarily liquid, such as propellants, reactants and coolants, among others, has a low supply tank pressure and low pressurant gas requirement, which results in maximized capacity, reduced system weight and reduced cost. The temperature of a container provided as part of the present invention is decreased below the freezing point of residual liquid within the container. Non-compressible gas is thereafter vented and the liquid raised to liquid temperature. Gaseous contaminants are thereby vented and subsequent filling of the container is thereby maximized.
Claims20
A method of providing fluid transfer and storage in a zero gravity environment for a container having fluid therein by varying the temperature of the fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
- lowering the temperature of the fluid within the container below a freezing point of the fluid;
- venting the container to remove non-frozen fluid remaining in the container;
- raising the temperature of the fluid within the container to at least a liquid temperature point of the fluid;
- and
- filling the container with additional fluid.
A method of maximizing the fluid storage capability of a container in a zero gravity environment by separating a liquid and a gas part of the fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
- lowering the temperature of fluid in the container below the freezing point of the liquid part of the fluid;
- venting the container to remove any gas part of the fluid not frozen and remaining in the container;
- and
- raising the temperature of the liquid part of the fluid to at least a liquid temperature point of the liquid part of the fluid.
A zero gravity liquid-vapor separation system for use in storing fluids in a zero gravity environment, the zero-gravity liquid-vapor separation system comprising:
- a container for storing a primarily liquid fluid;
- a heat exchanger for lowering the temperature of the container below a freezing point of the primarily liquid fluid therein;
- and
- a vent for use in removing non-condensible gases within the container when the primarily liquid fluid is below its freezing point, to thereby provide maximize storage capacity for additional fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.