On small disturbance ascent vent behavior

M. S. Woronowicz

doi:10.1117/12.946557

18 October 2012 On small disturbance ascent vent behavior

M. S. Woronowicz

Proceedings Volume 8492, Optical System Contamination: Effects, Measurements, and Control 2012; 84920E (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.946557
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

As a spacecraft undergoes ascent in a launch vehicle, its ambient pressure environment transitions from one atmosphere to high vacuum in a matter of a few minutes. Venting of internal cavities is necessary to prevent the buildup of pressure differentials across cavity walls. These pressure differentials are often restricted to low levels to prevent violation of container integrity. Such vents usually consist of fixed orifices, ducts, or combinations of both. Duct conductance behavior is fundamentally different from that for orifices in pressure driven flows governing the launch vehicle ascent depressurization environment. Duct conductance is governed by the average pressure across its length, while orifice conductance is dictated by a pressure ratio. Hence, one cannot define a valid “equivalent orifice” for a given duct across a range of pressure levels. The purpose of this paper is to develop expressions for these two types of vent elements in the limit of small pressure differentials, explore conditions for their validity, and to compare features regarding ascent depressurization performance.

Citation Download Citation

M. S. Woronowicz "On small disturbance ascent vent behavior", Proc. SPIE 8492, Optical System Contamination: Effects, Measurements, and Control 2012, 84920E (18 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.946557

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