ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Space Launchers Mastering technologies of cryogenic tanks and associated equipment www.airliquideadvancedtechnologies.com ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Air Liquide and Space Since the beginning of cryogenic launchers in Europe 50 years ago, Air Liquide has been a major partner, bringing to the space community its pioneering spirit, its innovation capacity, its expertise and its technical excellence. 3 Air Liquide subsidaries involved in the space odyssey Air Liquide Advanced Technologies Sassenage, France Design and manufacturing of the Ariane 5 cryogenic tanks for propulsion stages, on-board cryogenics for satellites, ground support equipment Euro Cryospace Les Mureaux, France Bremen, Germany Strategic partnership between Air Liquide and Astrium focused on the development and production of cryogenic tanks, for all Ariane 5 versions, including Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution (ME). Air Liquide Spatial Guyane Kourou, France Part of the Guyana Space Centre, it produces and supplies all the gases and associated services required for Ariane and Soyouz rockets launch operations. Air Liquide Advanced Technologies core expertise in Space: > Cryogenic tanks for Ariane 5 propulsion stages (H2&O2) and helium pressurization > Development of cryogenic equipment for the future European launcher > Cryogenic launch pad infrastructures and ground equipment for launchers and satellites > On-board cryogenics for satellites and for the international space station (pulse-tubes ) Benefits: > Customized solutions to meet your specific needs > Recognized experience in the space adventure > Solid expertise in space cryogenics > Dedicated teams providing support > A large scale cryogenic test center simulating space environment > Resources of an international group
Through Air Liquide Advanced Technologies and the GIE Euro Cryospace, Air Liquide designs and implements all the cryogenic tanks for the ARIANE 5 launcher and the related equipment. Air Liquide is particularly proactive in the search for new technologies alongside space stakeholders, and is now investigating the best designs for the launchers of the future after 2025. With the success of the HX space program and its innovative technologies, Air Liquide confirms its presence by developing innovative technologies in the service of science and to push back the boundaries of knowledge. Air Liquide carefully investigates the needs of its customers. With you, our teams and experts come up with innovative solutions to deliver the best answer in terms of technologies, products and services dedicated to space launchers. Euro cryospace A strategic partnership between Air Liquide and Astrium Euro Cryospace, strategic partnership between Air Liquide and Astrium, is the new European expansion of Cryospace, created in 1988 by both companies, for the development and production of Ariane 5 cryogenic tanks. Air Liquide, historical partner of the European space program, and Astrium, Europe s leading space company, both wish to continue to jointly develop their activity in space technologies through the Ariane program, taking into account the industry s new requirements. This long term commitment will enable the development of capabilities that will prove indispensable to the future technology challenges. Euro Cryospace will be focused on the development and production of cryogenic tanks, in particular for the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution (ME) upper stage. Euro cryospace 66, route de Verneuil - 78133 Les Mureaux Phone: +33 (0)1 39 06 27 28 Euro Cryospace is a French GIE (Groupement d Intérêt Economique - Economic Interest Grouping) responsible for the design, the development, the marketing and the qualification of cryogenic tanks. Euro Cryospace Deutschland is a European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) based in Bremen whose purpose is the production of the cryogenic tanks of the upper stage of Ariane 5 ME. Euro Cryospace in Les Mureaux, France, and Air Liquide Advanced Technologies in Sassenage, France, will continue to produce the current Ariane 5 ECA and ES tanks and the Ariane 5 ME main stage tanks.
Cryogenic propellant tanks Cryogenic propulsion enables a significant increase of space launchers performance, when compared to storable propellant solutions. Air Liquide provides the cryogenic tanks used to store liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen and liquid helium. Air Liquide expertise > Global approach that combines advice, solution, design, risk and cost control and takes into account space operations constraints > Design of liquid hydrogen, oxygen and helium tanks: functional, thermal and structural > Qualification and functional tests under cryogenic environment > Cryogenic pressurised tanks manufacturing > Integration of thermal insulation, propellant management devices, instrumentation > Flight data exploitation > Propellant behaviour prediction through accurate CFD* analysis and in-house qualified software *Computational fluid dynamics Benefits > Optimised structural mass versus propellant mass > Design to cost > Maturity: efficiency and reliability demonstrated for more than 30 years on the Ariane program > Expertise in functional, structural, termal, studies and analysis, and manufacturing (insulation, weldings ) > Large scale test under representative space condition capabilities > Adaptability: Air Liquide Advanced Technologies is able to design and manufacture tanks tailored to customer needs
Propellant management Air Liquide defines and supports the instrumentation of cryogenics tanks at various levels of requirements to propose you turnkey solutions. All our equipment are developed and tested to suit space specific conditions: very low temperatures, vibrations, fluid dynamic behaviour... Instrumentation for cryogenic tanks Temperature measurement Different types of sensors chosen to meet your specific needs: liquid or gaseous measurement, temperature range, reactivity, sensivity Pressure measurement Level gauge Design and manufacturing of capacitance or super conductive probes (flexible or rigide), to determine the mass of the cryo fluids remaining in the tank. A choice of probes and sensors depending on the pressure levels to be measured: absolute or relative. Cryogenic camera An innovative tool to visualize the behaviour of propellants during the different phases of the flight, or during ground phases and qualification tests. Propellant Management Devices Anti-sloshing Anti-wetting Anti-vortex Propellant management To reduce liquide ingestion in the pressurisation line, ullage pressure variations and solicitation of the attitude control system. Our device breaks slosh motion during the launcher ascent. To limit propellant losses by vaporization during transient and ballistic phases. To prevent premature gas ingestion in the engine turbo pumps. The anti-vortex device minimizes unusable propellant mass. To maintain the right positioning of the propellant for the main engine reignition after the ballistic phase.
On board specific equipment for propellant management Gas thruster: an innovative solution Pressurisation systems and regulation platines Applying a low thrust during long ballistic phases in low gravity allow to limit propellants losses by vaporization. Air Liquide has developed and tested a catalytic gas thruster using already available propellants to answer to this need. Cryogenic lines for draining, filling and pressurization Insulation Cryogenic propellants are used for space launchers and for this the tanks, lines and equipment need to be insulated against external environment on ground and in space. Air Liquide has developed different solutions to this end. Our insulation systems: > DacronTM felt > Vacuum honeycomb common bulkhead > Closed-cell foam > Multi Layer Insulation (MLI) > High performances multi-layer thermal protection systems (FMLIF, open cell,...) > High performances LH 2 insulation system compatible with nitrogen venting Benefits: > Low density > Low thermal conductivity > Easy shaping > Resistance to aerothermal fluxes > Can be bonded straight onto the alu structure
Tests & simulation A large scale test center to analyse, control and validate components, materials and products under representative space conditions. Specimen cryogenic tests To characterise material, to calibrate sensors, thermal cycling of material or components, Large scale tests To test large structures or propellant tanks under static loads and pressure, functional tests on piping and instruments, thermal simulation tests under representative space conditions, Air Liquide support To define and select the most appropriate tests according to your specific needs. Propellant modelisation Cryogenic propellant behaviour prediction during flight phases through extensive use of CFD (Computational fluid dynamics). Benefits: > Mastering of propellant management > Decrease of mass margins > Definition of new internal devices
Air Liquide at the heart of the Ariane launch vehicle 1 Pressure control component 4 Level gauges, propellant management devices (anti-vortex ), insulation 2 3 ESC-A : liquid hydrogen tank ESC-A : liquide oxygen tank Contacts AIR LIQUIDE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES 2, rue de Clémencière - BP 15 38360 Sassenage France Phone: + 33 (0)4 76 43 62 11 Fax: + 33 (0)4 76 43 62 71 E-mail: gcom.alat@airliquide.com www.airliquideadvancedtechnologies.com Printed on sustainably managed forests paper. 1 2 4 4 6 7 3 5 5 6 7 EPC : liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks Cryogenic feeding lines Pressurised liquid helium storage photos : DR - Air Liquide - Arianespace - Artechnique - P. Avavian - CNES - EADS/Astrium - ESA - Euro Cryospace - Fotolia - JM. Guillon Photo Optique Vidéo du CSG/ Vassel Graphique info@vasselgraphique.com / avril 2011 ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES