Numerical simulation of gas-liquid interface in a blade type propellant tank

Abstract

Currently, most of the satellite propulsion systems are mainly on chemical propulsion, and liquid propellant is the necessary power fuel for the propulsion system. The propellant tank of the satellite is a critical unit used to store and manage propellant. The hard core of the blade type tank is the Propellant Management Device (PMD), which serves to provide non entrained propellant for the propulser under specified flow and acceleration conditions during all phases of satellite operation. In this paper, the management performance of propellant under microgravity environment in the tank of a blade type is studied. Using the VOF model, the liquid management performance under microgravity environment in the tank is numerically simulated. The repositioning process is numerical simulated. The good management performance of the tank is verified, and the fluid distribution law is obtained, which can provide guidance for the design of the blade type tank.