The Study Of Interior Corner Flow Theory And Application In The Design Of Vane-type Surface Tension Tank

On orbit refueling(OOR) can resupply propellant to end-of-life spacecraft, andmake it keep operation on the orbit，so it is one of the most sophisticated technologywhich has vital strategic meaning. The vane-type surface tension tank has efficentpropellant mannagement capability, high structural reliability and can be repetitivelyused, so it is prefered in the OOR of spacecraft especially satallite. Therefore it is one ofthe most important key technologies of OOR. The interior corner flow is thefundamental theory of vane-type surface tension tank, and can develop by the need ofvane-type surface tension tank design, so it has significant value to be researched.Based on the need of OOR, this thesis has made in-depth research about thepropellant interior corner flow in the vane-type surface tension tank and the design ofvane-type surface tension tank. In the vane-type surface tension tank, the model ofasymmetric interior corner flow and interior corner flow in curved path are typical, andthe property of capillary flow in the two models can coexist, therefore, the simple modelof interior corner can be expanded to set up the model of asymmetric interior cornerflow and interior corner flow in curved path. The main works in this thesis include:(1) The asymmetric interior corner model which is derived from vane-typesurface tension tank and propellant management device (PMD) is set up, and then byintroducing the dummy corner, the liquid flow in the asymmetric corner is analyzedwith theoretical research and numerical solution. By these works, the capillary flow inthe asymmetric interior corner can be analyzed and predicted.(2) Some asymmetric interior corner models are used to test in the drop tower toanalyze the capillary rise of liquid in the asymmetric interior corner in microgravitycondition. The data of test result are compared with analytical solutions to verify thetheory of interior corner flow.(3) Proposed the model of interior corner flow in curved path which is derivedfrom vane-type surface tension tank. By making a great deal of numerical simulationabout capillary flow in the curved path corner, as well as the analysis of governingequations, we conclude that: a)the property of interior corner flow in curved path issimilar to one dimensional inteorior corner flow; b)the flow rate in curved path corner ishigher than one dimensional inteorior corner flow; c)the flowrate of capillary flow isproportional to the sectional area of z=0location in the meniscus.(4) The propellant orientation and filling in the vane-type surface tension tank isanalyzed with the model of asymmetric interior corner flow and interior corner flow incurved path, and calculated the capillary flow of propellant under different numbers andsizes of vane. The layout and structure of PMD is analyzed with the theory of interiorcorner flow, then the vane-type surface tension tank and PMD is designed and optimized. By these works the structure of PMD which has best efficiency can be found.By instruction of the theory of interior corner flow, with considering the stability ofinflow and propellant filling ratio, a small vane-type surface tension tank is designed inthis thesis.(5) The simulation model of capillary flow in the vane-type surface tension tankwhich is designed before is set up, and the process of propellant orientation and fillingare calculated by numerical simulations. By these works, the capability of vane-typesurface tension tank and PMD is verified.The thesis expanded the theory of interior corner flow based in the need ofvane-type surface tension tank desigh, then completed the design, optimizaiton andverification of vane-type surface tension tank. The works in this paper not onlyexpanded the theory of surface tension tank design, but also provide good reference tothe research of OOR; therefore it is meaningful for the application of the new conceptand principles.