On The Scalability of Cryogenic Common Bulkhead Propellant Tanks for Collegiate-Level Rocketry

Le résumé fourni par la source

The Students for Exploration and Development of Space chapter at the University of California, San Diego is developing a liquid bi-propellant sounding rocket to participate in the FAR/Mars competition, requiring the use of a liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG) bi-propellant. The similar boiling temperatures of the fluids enable storage of both propellants within a single tank, separated by a lightweight, non-insulated, common bulkhead (CBH) structure. This study examines the structural, thermal, and manufacturing challenges of implementing CBH tanks at the collegiate scale. Based on the vehicle design considerations, finite element analysis (FEA) simulations evaluated the structural and thermal tank performance under operational and extreme conditions, with hydrostatic testing for certifying its structural integrity and compliance with competition standards. The results validate the design and its technical advantages in reducing vehicle mass, minimizing manufacturing costs, and simplifying fluid systems integration. The ability to design, analyze, fabricate, and test a CBH propellant tank almost entirely in-house demonstrates a scalable and accessible solution for advancing collegiate-level rocketry.

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