FIELD: space engineering; filling the hydraulic lines with propulsive mass.
SUBSTANCE: prior to filling the hydraulic line with propulsive mass from tanker reservoir, its volume and temperature are measured. Then said line is evacuated and is filled with de-aerated propulsive mass in volume Vfill which is lesser than measured volume Vmeas of hydraulic line by magnitude of rated volumetric expansion of propulsive mass in the course of storage and delivery of payload Vp multiplied by safety factor Ksaf= 1.1-1.15. Safety factor takes into account accuracy of measurements in the course of filling, reliability of constants and total accuracy of method. Temperature measured in tanker reservoir is considered to be initial temperature of propulsive mass. Maximum temperature is determined from payload Specifications. After filling the hydraulic line, temperature and pressure are measured in it and measured pressure is compared with theoretical magnitude of propulsive mass saturated vapor pressure. If they coincide (taking into account accuracy of measurements), filling process is discontinued. In case of discrepancy, propulsive mass is entirely drained from hydraulic line and filling cycle is repeated till coincidence of pressures. Proposed method makes it possible to compensate for volumetric expansion of propulsive mass without connecting the technological compensators.
EFFECT: avoidance of foreign liquids and gases in propulsive mass; reduced power requirements for cooling propulsive mass.
