Pressurant Diffuser

Portland State Aerospace Society

Liquid Propellant Test Stand (LiqPETS)

Description

These calculations are to determine the need for and then the mechanics of a pressurant diffuser.

06/2019

These are preliminary efforts for calculation and are probably naive as it was done without a strong understanidng of CFD.

Problem

The high pressure Nitrogen (N2) fed to the Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Isopropyl Alcohol(IPA) enters the tanks at high speed on pressurization. Gas at high velocity may impoinge the surface of the liquid and form sub-surface bubbles of nitrogen. A second issue with LOX is the diffusion rate of nitrogen into LOX. This could result in a lower concentration of oxygen and subsequently a lower combustion efficiency.

Given

  • Maximum Feed Pressures
    • LOX - 500 PSI
    • IPA - 800 PSI
    • N2 - 2000 PSI (Unregulated)
  • Dimensions
    • Inlet tube diameter $1/2$ inch

Find

Solution

$$\frac{dB}{dt} = \frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cv}\rho b \:d\forall{} + \frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \boldsymbol{V} \cdot \hat{n} \:dA$$

lends itself to the notion that where $d\forall = 0$ and $\frac{dB}{dt} = 0$,

$$\sum_{i}^{n}\bigg[\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V} \cdot \hat{n}\big)_i \:dA \bigg] = 0$$

For this analysis, the extant property will be mass which will result in a return dimension of velocity.


In [2]:
import numpy

"""
Conversion Factors
"""

# flowrate_mass_LOX = 1.13 # kg/s
# flowrate_volume_LOX = flowrate_mass_LOX / density_LOX
# flowrate_volume_LOX / area_entrance

constant_gas_nitrogen = 2.968e2  # J/kg*K
constant_k_nitrogen = 1.4
constant_viscosity_nitrogen = 1.76e-5
temperature = 300 # K

# Metrics

diameter_entrance = (4/16) * (2.54/100) # meters
diameter_exit = 3/32 * 2.54 / 100    # meters
diameter_inside_thread = 0.5 * 0.0254 # meters

area_entrance = 1/4 * numpy.pi * diameter_entrance ** 2
area_exit = 1/4 * numpy.pi * diameter_exit**2

length_exit_max = (diameter_inside_thread - diameter_entrance) / 2

velocity_exit = 0       # m/s
velocity_sound_nitrogen = numpy.sqrt(constant_gas_nitrogen * constant_k_nitrogen * temperature)
reynolds_desired =  length_exit_max / (0.06 * diameter_exit)# laminar values are <=2100 , will not be developed. Munson 416

pressure_std = 14.7     # psi
pressure_feed_LOX = 500 # LOX side feed pressure psi
pressure_feed_IPA = 800 # IPA side feed pressure psi

In [8]:
print(length_exit_max * 100 / 2.54)
print(str(round(reynolds_desired,2)))


0.125
22.22

In [7]:
density_nitrogen = 1.14e0 * pressure_feed_LOX / pressure_std

velocity_exit = 2*(pressure_feed_LOX - pressure_std)/density_nitrogen

round(velocity_exit,2)


Out[7]:
25.03

The model used in this notebook relys on three distinct models. The first model, the inlet, uses an orifice to choke the maximum flow and has two control surfaces. The second type of section models the intermediate steps with a control surface on either end of the cylinder and radially symmetric control surfaces as a row inbetween. The last section is the end of the diffuser and only considers one end control surface and the radial exits at the end. The general stacking is as such:

inlet -> intermediate -> intermediate -> intermediate -> end

Model for the inlet section:

$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{in}} \cdot \hat{n}_{in}\big) \:dA_{in}=\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{out}} \cdot \hat{n}_{out}\big) \:dA_{out}$$

Where: $\hat{V} = \hat{n}$

$A_{in} = \frac{\pi}{4}D_{in}^{2}$

$A_{out} = \frac{\pi}{4}D_{out}^{2}$

$V_{in} = f\big(P_{feed}, P_{tank}\big)$

$\rho = $ density of nitrogen

$B = $ mass, $b = 1$.

This function reduces to:

$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\big(\rho b A_{in} \: \boldsymbol{V}_{in}\big)=\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\big(\rho b A_{out}\boldsymbol{V}_{out}\big)$$

Since $\dot{m}_{in} = \dot{m}_{out}$, we can rely on compressible flow, $\frac{P_{in}}{\rho_{in}^k} = \frac{P_{out}}{\rho_{out}^k}$

$$$$

Model for Intermediate Section

$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{in}} \cdot \hat{n}_{in}\big) \:dA_{in}=\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{out}} \cdot \hat{n}_{out}\big) \:dA_{out} + N\cdot\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{rad}} \cdot \hat{n}_{rad}\big) \:dA_{rad}$$

Where: $\hat{V} = \hat{n}$

$A_{in} = \frac{\pi}{4}D_{out}^{2}$

$A_{out} = A_{in}$

$V_{in} = V_{out,\;n-1}$

$\rho = $ density of nitrogen

$B = $ mass, $b = 1$.

Since the radial holes will be designed to achieve steady flow, $\hat{V}_{rad} = \hat{n}_{rad}$

Model for End Section

$$\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{in}} \cdot \hat{n}_{in}\big) \:dA_{in}=N\cdot\frac{\partial}{\partial t}\int_{cs}\rho b \: \big(\boldsymbol{V_{rad}} \cdot \hat{n}_{rad}\big) \:dA_{rad}$$

Where: $\hat{V} = \hat{n}$

$A_{in} = \frac{\pi}{4}D_{out}^{2}$

$V_{in} = V_{out,\;n-1}$

$\rho = $ density of nitrogen

$B = $ mass, $b = 1$.

Since the radial holes will be designed to achieve steady flow, $\hat{V}_{rad} = \hat{n}_{rad}$


In [ ]: