Investigation on Wicking Performance of Cryogenic Propellants Within Woven Screens Under Different Thermal and Gravity Conditions

In order to investigate the wicking performance of cryogenic propellants within metallic screens for space liquid acquisition devices, a modified one-dimensional macroscopic model is introduced. The model is successfully verified by the experimental data of both isothermal and superheated wicking. Dutch twill weave 200 x 1400 in the warp direction is chosen as the screen object. Three cryogenic propellants such as hydrogen, oxygen and methane are selected as the working fluids. The wicking performances at different thermal conditions (isothermal and superheated) and gravity levels (Earth, Mars, Moon and space) are investigated. Results show that the wicking velocity and maximal wicking height both have a negative correlation with the gravity and superheated degree. The wicking performance deviation between different fluids or different superheated conditions increases as the gravity decreases. LH2 always has the fastest initial wicking velocity, but its wicking performance rapidly deteriorates to the worst at superheated conditions due to its strongest ability of heat transfer. The wicking performance of LO2 is the worst at isothermal condition, but becomes better than that of LH2 at superheated condition. Wicking of LCH4 always has the largest maximum wicking height and performs the best among the three propellants under the same condition.