Ken Higuchi, Shinsuke Takeuchi, Eiichi Sato, Yoshihiro Narao, Yoshifumi Inatani, Fumiharu Namiki, Kohtaro Tanaka, Yoko Watabe
International Astronautical Federation - 55th International Astronautical Congress 2004 13 8423-8428 2004年
A cryogenic tank made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) shell with aluminum thin liner has been designed as a liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank for ISAS reusable launch vehicle, and the function of it has been proven by repeated flights onboard the test vehicle called reusable vehicle testing (RVT) in October 2003. The liquid hydrogen tank has to be a pressure vessel, because the fuel of the engine of the test vehicle is supplied by fuel pressure. The pressure vessel of a combination of the outer shell of CFRP for strength element at a cryogenic temperature and the inner liner of aluminum for gas barrier has shown excellent weight merit for this purpose. Interfaces such as tank outline shape, bulk capacity, maximum expected operating pressure (MEOP), thermal insulation, pipe arrangement, measurement of data, are also designed to be ready onboard. This research has many aims, not only development of reusable cryogenic composite tank, but also the demonstration of repeated operation including thermal cycle and stress cycle, the familiarization with test techniques of operation of cryogenic composite tanks, and the accumulation of data for future design of tanks, vehicle structures, safety evaluation, and total operation systems.