RCS Tank Operations Using Cryocoolers

The proposed RCS gas generation system integrates with existing active CFM hardware to manage temperature and pressure for the propellant, vaporizer, and RCS tanks. Innovative integration with the waste heat and cooling power of the cryocoolers, an essential part of CFM hardware for long duration, cryogenically propelled missions, enables the propellant to be vaporized and heated to the required 300K and 3000psi at the necessary rates (0.1g/s for hydrogen, 0.3g/s for methane, and 0.5g/s for oxygen). Utilizing the cooling power of the cryocooler means any remaining gaseous propellant in the vaporizer tank after transfer to the RCS accumulator can be chilled and condensed. Chilling and condensing the propellant prepares the vaporizer tank for the next transfer from the propellant tank and reduces the need to vent the vaporizer tank between fill events. This limits propellant loss by reducing the number of venting events throughout the mission. Managing RCS gas generation through an on-board cryocooler reduces the mass and power requirements of the gas generation system and reduces the mass of needed propellant by reducing the number of propellant venting events.