Research On Modeling And Simulation Of The Process Of Propellant Refueling To Space Stations

The propellant refueling technology is a key technology for the development of space station. The propellant refueling system is a part of the propulsion system on the space laboratory or the space station. While the propulsion system of the space laboratory has the propellant refueling function in design project, life of the space laboratory will be prolonged.According to the research on the modeling and simulation of the space station propellant refueling, the simulation software was designed and developed, which would be used in this kind of system design, in order to short the research cycle and improve the design efficiency.The special significance and necessary of the long term development to the space station were presented. The general situation and trend of the space station development were introduced. Then, the research actuality and development direction of the propellant refueling were given. A paragraph of the paper introduced the current propellant refueling development in foreign countries, the advanced on-orbit refueling technology for the space station, and the characteristics of refueling in space and possible implement concepts. Difficulties in the on-orbit refueling technology were discussed.The computer simulation technology was applied in the propellant refueling to the space station. On the basis of the principle of fluid mechanics and engineering thermodynamics, the mathematical models of propellant refueling process for space station were established. The simulation results using different modeling methods were analyzed in details on the Matlab platform. All kinds of factors which influence the refueling were studied. The computer simulation software developed with Visual C6.0 language could conveniently modify various parameters of simulation models. Inputting different simulation parameters would output different simulation results. It's easy to analysis the process of propellant refueling.The research results are of important reference values to the refueling system design for the space station.