The static reseal pressure model for cryogenic screen channel liquid acquisition devices

Inside a propellant tank in microgravity, surface tension forces dominate, and porous screen channel liquid acquisition devices (LADs) are required to separate fluid phases, control flow, and ensure vapor free liquid transfer out of the tank. The bubble point pressure based on Adamson and Gast (1997) and reseal pressure of the screen define LAD performance. This paper presents a predictive equation for modeling the reseal pressure in both storable as well as cryogenic liquids. Seven parameters affect the reseal pressure, including surface tension (liquid type), contact angle, screen reseal diameter, liquid temperature, degree of subcooling, and pressurant gas type and temperature. Decreasing the temperature decreases reseal pressure. Pressurization with a non-condensable gas always yields higher reseal points over pressurization with a condensable gas. Subcooling the liquid at the screen adds margin in reseal point whereas elevating the temperature of the pressurant gas is a degradation factor. The reseal pressure model is validated across a wide range of experimental ground data and the mean absolute error between 4815 data points and model is only 2.4%. Published by Elsevier Ltd.