Abstract
The overall economy and operational flexibility of orbiting instrument systems which use stored liquid helium might be improved by on-orbit helium replenishment. The practicality of doing this depends on the efficient use of proven technologies as well as the development and application of new technologies, primarily in the areas of fluid acquisition and transfer. Current long-lifetime cryogenic storage technology can be used to provide a mass-optimized resupply dewar and to simplify prelaunch ground operations. The tanker system mass can be reduced even further by using mechanical cooling to reduce parasitic heat input and fluid losses during extended orbital standby. Transfer system technology development issues are related not only to component functions, but more importantly to understanding all aspects of the transfer process (i.e., startup, user cooldown, filling, shutdown, and venting). This understanding is needed to successfully design the resupply system, including the control of the transfer process. Issues and solutions of these critical design and technology areas are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Study of a Superfluid Helium Tanker, NASA contract NAS2–17852, Final Report, October 1988.
Study of SIRTF Instrument Changeout and Cryogen Replenishment, NASA contract NAS2–11979, Final Report, November 1985.
NASA Johnson Space Center contract NAS9–17872 (current).
J.A. Nissen and S.W. Van Sciver, “A Test of the Superfluid Helium On-orbit Transfer Fluid Acquisition System”, 1989 CEC/ICMC Conference (to be published).
A.J. Mord et al., “Concepts for On-Orbit Replenishment of Liquid Helium for SIRTF”, Cryogenics 26, p. 107 (1986).
M.J. DiPirro and P. Kittel, “The Superfluid Helium On-Orbit Transfer (SHOOT) Experiment”, in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, vol 33, R.W. Fast, ed., p. 893 (1988).
G.M. Wanner, “Direct Liquid Content Measurement Applicable for He II Space Cryostats”, in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, vol. 33, R.W. Fast, ed., p. 917 (1988).
G.L. Mills et al., “Experiments On Transferring Helium II with a Thermomechanical Pump”, in Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, vol. 33, R.W. Fast, ed., p. 497 (1988).
G.L. Mills and A.R. Urbach, “Performance of a Thermomechanical Pump”, 1989 Space Cryogenics Workshop, July 31 - August 1, 1989 (to be published in Cryogenics).
L.A. Hermanson, A.J. Mord, and H.A. Snyder, “Modeling of Superfluid Helium Transfer”, Cryogenics 26, p. 68 (1986).
H.A. Snyder, “Dewar-to-Dewar Model for Superfluid Helium Transfer”, Cryogenics 28, p. 86 (1988).
SHOOT Preliminary Design Review, Volume I, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, September 29, 1987.
R.C. Hawthorne and H.C. Helms, “Flow in Corrugated Hose”, Product Engineering, June 10, 1963.
P.L. Walstrom, J.G. Weisend, J.R. Moddocks, and S.W. Van Sciver, “Turbulent Flow Pressure Drop in Various He II Transfer System Components”, Cryogenics, 28, p. 101 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Hopkins, R.A., Mord, A.J. (1990). A Design and Critical Technology Issues for On-Orbit Resupply of Superfluid Helium. In: Fast, R.W. (eds) Advances in Cryogenic Engineering. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, vol 35. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0639-9_39
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0639-9_39
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7904-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-0639-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive