Propellant tank with radiometric measurement of content quantity

Abstract

A propellant tank for containing a propellant with a liquid phase, preferably for a satellite, includes a tank shell wrapped or wound with scintillating glass fibers, a gamma radiation emitter arranged preferably in the center of the tank, and photodiodes allocated to the glass fibers. Preferably, plural glass fibers are wound in cylindrically symmetrical sections around the tank, and the winding axis of the glass fibers extends through the tank outlet. The glass fibers scintillate and emit pulses of light in response to being impinged upon by gamma radiation. The quantity and location of liquid propellant in the tank is determined by evaluating the light signals emitted by the glass fibers. The tank shell is preferably fabricated of a lightweight metal such as aluminum or titanium, to minimize gamma radiation absorption in the tank shell wall, and thereby minimize the required emitting magnitude of the gamma radiation source.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.