Propellant transfer system and method for resupply of propellant to on-orbit spacecraft
AssigneeMacdonald, Dettwiler and Associates Inc.
InventorsAndrew Allen, John Lymer, Kerry Spring, Rangaswamy Ravindran
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Abstract
Herein is disclosed a propellant transfer system and method for refueling on-orbit spacecraft. The system and method are configured to allow for resupply of spacecraft configured to be fueled by either a bipropellant (oxidizer and fuel) or a monopropellant (typically hydrazine). The system and method are particularly suited for resupply of satellites not originally prepared for refueling as well but the system may also be used for as satellites specifically designed for refueling.
Claims29
A system mounted on a servicer spacecraft for transferring fluid to a client satellite, the client satellite including at least one storage tank having at least a first fluid transfer coupling, comprising:
- a) a fluid storage and routing system for storing and routing fluid from said servicing spacecraft to the at least one storage tank on the client satellite, said storage and routing system including
- at least one pressurized tank containing a pressurized gas, at least one fluid storage tank, and an associated fluid transfer coupling,
- first and second flow paths connecting said at least one fluid storage tank, said at least one pressurized gas tank and said associated fluid transfer coupling;
- and
- b) a flow control system configured for
- detecting and adjusting pressure and flow rate of said gas and fluid through said first and second flow paths,
- detecting pressure in the at least one storage tank on the client satellite once said associated fluid transfer coupling is coupled to the fluid transfer coupling on the client satellite,
- transferring fluid from said fluid tank, using pressurized gas from said pressurized gas tank, to said at least one storage tank on the client satellite via said first flow path at a pressure less than or equal to a pressure of the at least one pressurized gas tank, or via said second flow path at a pressure greater than a pressure of the at least one pressurized gas tank.
A system mounted on a servicer spacecraft for transferring fluid to a client satellite, the client satellite including at least one storage tank having at least a first fluid transfer coupling, comprising:
- a) means for storing and routing fluid from said servicing spacecraft to the at least one storage tank on the client satellite;
- and
- b) means for controlling flow of gas and fluid, said means for controlling flow of gas and fluid configured for
- detecting and adjusting pressure and flow rate of said gas and fluid through said first and second flow paths,
- detecting pressure in the at least one storage tank on the client satellite once said associated fluid transfer coupling is coupled to the fluid transfer coupling on the client satellite,
- transferring fluid from said fluid tank to said least one storage tank on the client satellite using the pressurized gas
- via said first flow path at a pressure less than or equal to a pressure of the at least one pressurized gas tank, or
- via said second flow path at a pressure greater than a pressure of the at least one pressurized gas tank.
A propellant transfer system for transferring propellant between a servicer spacecraft and a client satellite, the client satellite having a client satellite propellant tank and a propellant tank fill/drain valve, comprising:
- a) at least one propellant transfer subsystem mounted on the servicer spacecraft, each of said at least one propellant transfer system including
- at least one pressurized tank containing a pressurized gas, at least one propellant storage tank, said at least one propellant storage tank and said at least one pressurized gas tank being in flow communication with each other through a routing tube system;
- b) a flow control system integrated with said routing tube system, said flow control system configured for
- detecting and adjusting pressure and flow rate of said pressurized gas and propellant, and
- detecting pressure in the client satellite propellant storage tank once the propellant transfer subsystem is coupled to the client satellite and the fill/drain valve on the client satellite propellant tank is open,
- c) a command and control system interfaced with the flow control system of each of said at least one propellant transfer subsystem, said command and control system being configured to regulate pressure and flow rate of propellant between each of said at least one propellant transfer subsystem and the client satellite propellant tank based on a detected pressure of the client satellite propellant tank;
- and
- d) a communication system configured to provide communication between said command and control system and a remote operator for remote teleoperator control, or a mixture of teleoperator control and supervised autonomy control, or fully autonomous control of propellant transfer operations between the servicer spacecraft and the client satellite.
A propellant transfer system mounted on a servicer satellite for transferring bipropellant and/or monopropellant between the servicer satellite and propellant tank of client satellites configured for propulsion with bipropellant and/or monopropellant respectively, each client satellite having a fill/drain valve associated with each propellant tank for accessing the propellant storage tank, comprising:
- a) first, second and third propellant transfer subsystems, each propellant transfer subsystem including,
- at least one pressurized tank containing a pressurized gas, at least one propellant storage tank, said at least one propellant storage tank and said at least one pressurized gas tank being in flow communication with each other through a routing tube system;
- b) a flow control system integrated with said interconnecting tube system for
- detecting and adjusting pressure and flow rate of said pressurized gas and propellant, and
- detecting pressure in the client satellite propellant storage tank once the propellant transfer subsystem is coupled to the client satellite and the fill/drain valve on the client satellite propellant tank is open,
- c) a command and control system interfaced with the flow control system of each propellant transfer subsystem, said command and control system being configured to regulate pressure and flow rate of propellant between each propellant transfer subsystem and associated client satellite propellant tanks based on a detected pressure of the client satellite propellant tank;
- and
- d) a communication system configured to provide communication between said command and control system and a remote operator for remote teleoperator control, or a mixture of teleoperator control and supervised autonomy control, or fully autonomous control of propellant transfer operations between said first, second and third propellant transfer subsystems and said client satellite propellant tanks and the associated propellant tanks on the client satellite.
A system mounted on a servicer spacecraft for transferring fluid to a client satellite, the client satellite including at least one storage tank having at least a first fluid transfer coupling, comprising:
- a) a fluid storage and routing system for storing and routing fluid from said servicing spacecraft to the at least one storage tank on the client satellite, said storage and routing system including
- at least one pressurized tank containing a pressurized gas, at least one fluid storage tank, and an associated fluid transfer coupling,
- first and second flow paths connecting said at least one fluid storage tank, said at least one pressurized gas tank and said associated fluid transfer coupling,
- a pump in said flow path;
- and
- b) a flow control system configured for
- detecting and adjusting pressure and flow rate of said gas and fluid through said first and second flow paths,
- detecting pressure in the at least one storage tank on the client satellite once said associated fluid transfer coupling is coupled to the fluid transfer coupling on the client satellite,
- activating said pump for transferring fluid from said fluid tank to said at least one storage tank on the client satellite via said flow path at a pressure less than or equal to a pressure of the at least one pressurized gas tank, or via said second flow path without the pump at a pressure greater than a pressure of the at least one pressurized gas tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.