Cryogenic propulsion

Presented by : z.Abolghasem Hoseyni

April 2014
One of most important achievements of mankind is the cryogenic technology which
enables us to refrigerate gasses and use them in various systems like propulsion of an
in-space travelling rocket. Below you can see characteristic temperature of cryogenic
fluids.
Here you can see some usages of cryogenic technology
Under the Technology Demonstration Mission (TDM) Program, the Cryogenic
Propellant Storage and Transfer (CPST) Project will demonstrate the in-space
capability of long-term storage and transfer of cryogenic propellants (liquid hydrogen),
essential for transportation on deep-space exploration missions.

Cryogenic propellants—gasses chilled to subfreezing temp - eratures and condensed

to form highly combustible liquids— provide high-energy propulsion solutions critical
to future, long-term human exploration missions beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO). The
challenge is to develop a means of storing and transferring these propellants in space
for long-duration missions, and preventing temperature fluctuations that contribute to
fuel losses due to boil-off—vaporization of a liquid due to heating.

Figure 4 Cryogenic propulsion

Advantages of cryogenic propulsion
1.Very High Specific Impulse.
(due to low molecular weight combustion products
resulting in high exhaust gas velocities).
2. Lower cost of propellants
3. Non – toxic/harmless exhaust gases
4.Non corrosive Propellants
5. Low attenuation effect of exhaust gases on RF signals

Disadvantages of cryogenic propulsion

1. Insulated tanks are required.
2. Handling of continuously evaporating vapours
3. Low Density of Hydrogen resulting in bulky tanks
 The CPS is an in-space cryogenic propulsive stage based largely on state
of the practice design for launch vehicle upper stages.
-However, unlike conventional propulsive stages, it also contains power generation and
thermal control systems to limit the loss of liquid hydrogen and oxygen due to boil-off
during extended in-space storage.
The CPS provides the necessary ΔV for rapid transfer of in-space elements to their
destinations or staging points .
The CPS is designed around a block upgrade strategy to provide
maximum mission/architecture flexibility
-Block 1 CPS: Short duration flight times (hours), passive cryo fluid management
-Block 2 CPS: Long duration flight times (days/weeks/months), active and passive
cryo fluid management
• Passive thermal control includes the combination of insulation, low
conductivity structure, mixing, and thermodynamic venting.
– A protective blanket must be thick (>50 radiation shield layers resulting in 2
to 3 inches) for long- duration missions in space. This effort characterized the
impact on blanket performance of various approaches to optimize the
interface between the multilayer insulation (MLI) blanket and elements that
must penetrate it such as structure and plumbing.
• Active thermal control requires refrigeration by the integration of a
cryocooler with the tank system.
– CPST integrated a cryocooler with a propellant tank using a cooled gas
distribution loop to demonstrate the thermal and structural feasibility of
hydrogen reduced boil-off. The tubing containing the circulating cold gas is
thermally linked to the tank structure, plumbing, and wires to intercept
conductive heat loads. In addition, Broad Area Cooling (a distributed cooling
scheme) was inserted in the middle layers of the MLI to intercept radiative
heat loads. This reduces the heat that reaches the propellant.
 As I mentioned before; cryogenical propulsions are useful in long-term space
explorations and travels.
Nowadays , specialists are planning to send mankind to the surface of Mars.

The current mission plan for the first human mission to Mars is based on an
in-situ resource utilization(ISRU) approach to reduce the amount of
propellants needed to be taken to Mars and ultimately to reduce mission cost.
The current Mars Robotic Exploration Program does not include ISRU on the
early sample return missions. A need exists to demonstrate ISRU technologies
on one or more robotic missions prior to the first human mission.
 This presentation outlines a concept for an ISRU based precursor mission as
a technology demonstration prior to the first human mission. It will also
return Martian soil samples to Earth for analysis. The mission will primarily
demonstrate cryogenic oxygen and fuel production, liquefaction, and storage
for use as propellants for the return trip. The fuel will be hydrocarbon: either
methane, methanol, or ethylene . Hydrogen feedstock will be brought from
Earth.
The analysis used to develop the mission concept includes several different
thermal control and liquefaction options for the cryogens. Active cooling and
liquefaction devices include Stirling , pulse tube, and Brayton -cycle
cryocoolers . Insulation options include multilayer insulation, evacuated
microspheres, aerogel blankets, and foam insulation. The cooling and insulation
are traded off against each other for a minimum-mass system. In the case of
hydrogen feedstock , the amount of hydrogen boil off allowed during the trip
to Mars is also included in the tradeoff. Passive cooling using external
radiators is also considered for reducing the heat leak to the hydrogen during
cruise.
 The spacecraft concept includes a Lander(including the propellant
production plant) with a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) mounted atop it. An
option is explored where the engines on the MAV are also used for descent
and landing on the Martian surface. So the propellant tanks would contain
descent propellant during the trip from Earth. This propellant would be
consumed in descent to the Martian surface, resulting in the nearly-empty
MAV tanks to be filled by the ISRU plant.
The presentation includes conceptual layout drawings of the proposed
Lander/MAV combination, including propellant tanks and ISRU components.
Mass estimates of the various components are also included.
For more information these sources are recommended:
1-www.srmuniv.ac.in/sites/default/files/files/CPS.pdf
2-www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/CPST_Fact_Sheet(1).pdf
3-www.spaceclimate.net/Depots.in.Space.pdf
4-cds.cern.ch/record/1012032/files/at-2007-001.pdf
5-R.B. Scott, Cryogenic engineering,Van Nostrand, Princeton (1959)
6-K.D. Timmerhaus & T.M. Flynn, Cryogenic process engineering, Plenum
Press, New York (1989)