Integrated vehicle fluids

摘要

A system and methods are provided for combining systems of an upper stage space launch vehicle for enhancing the operation of the space vehicle. Hydrogen and oxygen already on board as propellant for the upper stage rockets is also used for other upper stage functions to include propellant tank pressurization, attitude control, vehicle settling, and electrical requirements. Specifically, gases from the propellant tanks, instead of being dumped overboard, are used as fuel and oxidizer to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other elements including a starter/generator for generation of electrical current, mechanical power for fluid pumps, and other uses. The exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is also used directly in one or more vehicle settling thrusters. Accumulators which store the waste ullage gases are pressurized and provide pressurization control for the propellant tanks. The system is constructed in a modular configuration in which two redundant integrated fluid modules may be mounted to the vehicle, each of the modules capable of supporting the upper stage functions.

主权项

1. An upper stage launch vehicle comprising:
a pair of main vehicle tanks for storage of liquid propellants therein including a hydrogen tank and an oxygen tank; at least one main upper stage rocket for propelling the launch vehicle in space; a payload associated with said launch vehicle; an internal combustion engine powered by waste ullage hydrogen and oxygen vented from said tanks; a power generator communicating with an output shaft of said internal combustion engine for generating electrical current; a battery in electrical communication with said generator for storing the electrical power; a gaseous oxygen accumulator for storing oxygen from the oxygen tank; a gaseous hydrogen accumulator for storing hydrogen from the hydrogen tank; and a thruster group for providing attitude and settling control of the vehicle, said thruster group including at least one attitude thruster and at least one settling thruster, said settling thruster being selectively powered in a first mode by exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine and in a second mode by oxygen and hydrogen gas from said accumulators, and the attitude thruster being powered by oxygen and hydrogen gas from said accumulators.