Note on Heat Exchanger Design for Cryogenic Propellant Tanks

Abstract

In a recent study, Dowty and Murphy [¹] presented a theoretical analysis with limited experimental data to verify a design of a vapor separator for zero gravity propellant tank venting. The vapor separator in this application utilizes a fluid expander coupled to a heat exchanger. The scheme basically permits the venting fluid to expand initially to a pressure and temperature below that of the bulk propellant, and then to absorb a sufficient amount of energy from the bulk propellant by means of the heat exchanger to assure that only vapor leaves the propellant tank.