Numerical Simulation of Fluid Transport along Parallel Vanes for Vane Type Propellant Tanks

Fuel tanks are a core component in satellites that manage the propellant. This study numerically analyzed the fluid transport with parallel guide vanes in a vane type surface tension tank. Flow3D was used to simulate fluid transport in microgravity in a scale model with 15% liquid filling rate with comparisons to experimental data. Then, the simulations were used to compare the leading edge climbing speed for various working conditions and the liquid volume below a specified cross section for various liquid filling rates, various numbers of vanes. The results show that the liquid climbing process on the guide plate in the plate tank can be divided into the liquid level repositioning stage after the gravitational force is suddenly removed and the stable fluid transport stage. Throughout the entire capillary flow stage, the liquid leading edge climbing rate is not related to the filling rate of the number of vanes and the fluid transport efficiency of a single guide vane is independent of the total number of vanes.