Unified spacecraft propellant management system for chemical and electric propulsion
US11021273B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 3, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF17C2270/0194
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft includes a propulsion system that includes one or more pressurant tanks configured to store an inert gas at a high pressure, one or more propellant tanks configured to store liquid propellant at an intermediate pressure, electric thrusters operable with the inert gas at a low pressure and pneumatically coupled with the one or more pressurant tanks by way of a first pressure regulator, and chemical thrusters operable with the liquid propellant. The inert gas is one or a mixture of two or more of xenon, argon and krypton. At least a portion of the liquid propellant is stored in at least one of the propellant tanks, the propellant tank including an ullage volume pneumatically coupled with at least one of the pressurant tanks by way of a second pressure regulator having an output set to the intermediate pressure and the ullage volume is pressurized by the inert gas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.