CFD numerical simulation of cryogenic propellant vaporization in tank

Simulation on heat and mass transfer in propellant tank was performed to investigate influence of cryogenic propellant vaporization on tank pressure and propellant temperature. The simulation was concerned with heat transfer between propellant tank and external environment, propellant free convection, thermal exchange between propellant and inner tank wall surface, and cryogenic propellant phase transition. A propellant phase transformation model was built on the basis of thermodynamic equilibrium. Physical process of 450 s in propellant tank during ground parking under atmospheric pressure was simulated using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method. Simulation results reveal that the propellant temperature distribution, flow state and phase transition will tend to stable as propellant tank wall heat transfer stabilizes. The evaporation of propellant per unit time was obtained through simulation. And the main factors affecting the propellant phase transition are heat leak from tank walls and the propellant's own convection motion.