Prospects of introducing combined porous mesh materials in the in-tank device structures of the spacecraft and upper stage propulsion systems

Abstract

The paper presents theoretical and experimental substantiation of the prospects to use materials of the new type, i.e. the combined porous-mesh materials (CPMM), in the in-tank devices (ITD) structures of spacecraft propulsion systems and upper stages to ensure multiple liquid-propellant rocket engine start in practical zero gravity. It is shown that CPMM operation was accompanied by phenomena that were missing, when using mesh materials previously used for this purpose, the so-called mesh separators (MS). It is concluded that at present it should be considered expedient to widely introduce CPMM in the ITD structure elements, since in this capacity the CPMM properties are noticeably superior to those of conventional MS. As a result, the ITD efficiency based on CPMM increases significantly, which finally makes it possible to minimize unusable fuel residues in the tanks and, thereby, increase the energy-mass efficiency of the aerial vehicle as a whole.