An Investigation of the Liquid Oxygen Geysering Phenomena in Missile Supply Lines

Abstract

Geysering for years has been recognized as a problem in long liquid oxygen supply lines. Euptured supply ducting has been reported due to the destructive nature of the pressure surges encountered. With design decisions to place the liquid oxygen tank forward of the fuel tank in the missiles, long supply lines (approximately 25 feet) became necessary to supply liquid oxygen to the propellant pumps. To reduce weight, thin stainless steel ducting is utilized and it becomes imperative to have an exact knowledge of the geysering phenomena for this configuration and of the pressures which could be expected in the supply ducting. The author presents a discussion of the series of tests made on simulated missile plumbing at the San Diego Division of Convair during 1955 and 1956. The various methods of geysering suppression investigated are also presented in this paper. The test hardware was designed to simulate, as near as possible, the internal volumes, masses and heat transfer areas of the actual missile equipment in the liquid oxygen supply system.