T0039-P Fuel Mass Gauging Under Zero-G Based on Electrical Capacitance Volumatric Tomography Techniques

Program start date is on hold until Space Act Agreement is signed.  Placeholder date of January 2014 is used as placeholder.

This study proposes to test and advance the electrical capacitance volumetric tomography (ECVT) technology to measure mass of propellant fuel stored in a tank operating in a zero –G condition.  The distinguishing feature of the proposed method utilized in this study is that while estimating fuel mass it takes into account random fuel distribution inside the tank due to zero gravity environment. The current state-of-the-art methods of mass gauging of cryogenic liquids in microgravity conditions are based on the global behavior of the storage tank and do not take into account random fuel distribution.