Final Test Results for the Ground Operations Demonstration Unit for Liquid Hydrogen.

Area of Science:

• Cryogenic engineering
• Aerospace engineering
• Propellant management

Background:

• Developing advanced storage systems is crucial for long-duration space missions.
• Efficient management of cryogenic propellants like liquid hydrogen presents significant technical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test and validate the Ground Operations and Demonstration Unit for Liquid Hydrogen (GODU LH2) system.
• To demonstrate zero-loss storage and transfer, gaseous liquefaction, and propellant densification.
• To assess the performance of an integrated cryogenic refrigeration and storage system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a commercial cryogenic refrigerator integrated with a 125,000-liter liquid hydrogen tank.
• Employed a closed-loop Brayton cycle refrigerator and a novel internal heat exchanger for heat extraction.
• Conducted tests at three different liquid hydrogen fill levels, collecting data on pressure, temperature, and mass flow.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated zero-loss storage and transfer of liquid hydrogen.
• Achieved gaseous liquefaction and propellant densification capabilities.
• Validated the performance of the integrated refrigeration and storage system over approximately two years of testing.

Conclusions:

• The GODU LH2 system successfully met all primary test objectives.
• The integrated system provides a viable solution for advanced liquid hydrogen propellant management.
• The project demonstrated significant advancements in cryogenic storage technology for space exploration.