Cryogenic propellant depletion system for a launch vehicle

摘要

A cryogenic propellant depletion system for maximizing cryogenic propellant use in a space launch vehicle. The cryogenic propellant depletion system utilizes a plurality of pressure measurements to monitor one or more parameters of the cryogenic propellant in a feed line interconnecting a cryogenic propellant storage tank to the launch vehicle's engine. In this regard, the cryogenic depletion system includes a processor and supported logic to determine a head pressure supplied by the cryogenic propellant in the feed line and the mass of the cryogenic propellant in the feed line. The cryogenic depletion monitoring system is operative to determine these propellant parameters irrespective of a two-phase flow existing in the feed line. Finally, the system is configured to initiate engine shut down when at least one of the determined propellant parameters falls below a minimum threshold value.