Design and Development of Polymer-Lined Composite Tank for Liquid Hydrogen Propellant of Reusable Vehicle

Paper number

IAC-08.C2.1.5

Author

Dr. Shinsuke Takeuchi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Prof. Eiichi Sato, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Yoshihiro Naruo, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Satoshi Nonaka, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Yoji Arakawa, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan

Coauthor

Mr. akira miyahara, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan

Year

2008

Abstract

In Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA), a polymer-lined composite tank is being investigated and developed in order to reduce a structural weight of a liquid hydrogen (LH2) propellant tank for Reusable Vehicle Test (RVT). In the concept of a composite tank, it is important to keep air-tight against micro-cracks in the matrix as a leak route of internal fluid. As a solution, a metal-lined composite tank was already developed in ISAS/JAXA. A polymer-lined tank is another solution with a lighter weight and less thermal stress than those of the metal-lined tank. This paper reports the detail design and development of this tank.

In the design process of such a lined cryogenic composite tank, fracture toughness of bonding between metal parts and composite layer is important because its delamination often dominates the destructive mode of the tank. To evaluate this delamination, an analytical solution based on strain energy changes in both metal and composite due to infinitesimal crack growth is derived for the first step of the design optimization. The resultant design is evaluated by finite element method in detail to show its fracture-mechanical feasibility. 

In the production process, forming of LH2-tight liner is a key technology. Whole liner was made of liquid crystal polymer and formed at one time by use of heat melt bonding. This formed liner has a good gas-barrier performance and enough elongation in cryogenic temperature.
 
At last the produced tank was verified through the following steps: room temperature water pressurizing test, liquid nitrogen filling and pressurizing test, and LH2 filling and pressurizing test. The tank passed all the tests and showed enough performance. 

Abstract document

IAC-08.C2.1.5.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.C2.1.5.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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