Skip to main content
Abstract

Hydrogen is widely in use in rocket propulsion systems, and as such, leakage of hydrogen from high-pressure fuel tanks requires accurate quantification. Safety concerns have led to the practice of conducting leak tests with helium (an inert gas) and to try to infer the hydrogen leak rates from helium data, often employing assumptions of essentially isentropic flow processes and choked leak orifices. The experimental study sought to quantify precisely the relationships between hydrogen and helium leak rates for various types of leaks. Simulated leak sources were fabricated by micromachining leaks or holes of prescribed shapes and cross-sectional areas in silicon wafers, utilizing the processes of photolithography and deep reactive ion etching. Dual thermal conductivity detectors were used to evaluate helium and hydrogen leak rates and to quantify differences in discharge coefficients among the various microorifices. Based on this quantification, the standard helium signature test procedure was found to underpredict hydrogen leak rates, in some cases significantly, if the corresponding helium tests are conducted at much lower pressures than those at which hydrogen leak rates are sought.

Year of Publication
2003
Journal
Aiaa Journal
Volume
41
Number of Pages
457-464
ISBN Number
0001-1452
Accession Number
WOS:000181330700012
DOI
10.2514/2.1967
Alternate Journal
Aiaa J
We are professional and reliable provider since we offer customers the most powerful and beautiful themes. Besides, we always catch the latest technology and adapt to follow world’s new trends to deliver the best themes to the market.

Contact info

We are the leaders in the building industries and factories. We're word wide. We never give up on the challenges.

Recent Posts