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Bladder Tanks
39 litre

Surface Tension Tanks
104 Litre
176 Litre
177 Litre
235 Litre
282 Litre
235 to 516 Litre
700 to 1108 Litre
769 Litre
1207 Litre

Spin Stabilised Tanks
218 Litre


Satellite Surface Tension Propellant Tanks

Propellant tanks for satellites, spacecraft, space probes and AOCS systems

 

As the name implies, surface tension tanks exploit the surface tension properties of the propellant to control, manage and deliver gas-free oxidiser or fuel, especially under micro-g conditions. This advanced technology, developed at Astrium Bremen, maximises the use of the available propellant, thereby minimising residuals, enabling the life of Geostationary satellites to be increased by up to 15 years and beyond.

The Bremen Production Centre have been producing surface tension propellant tanks for almost 40 years. During that time, the Centre has mastered the essential technologies necessary for reliable and highly efficient propellant tanks, propellant management systems and propellant acquisition devices. The Centre is now European leader for the supply of surface tension propellant tanks for satellites, spacecraft, orbital platorms, interplanetary vehicles and space probes.

 

Development History

1st Generation OST 01/X

The 1st generation of surface tension tank was developed for Unified Propulsion Systems and was
first used on the communication satellites TV-Sat and TDF-1.

The tank comprised two chambers. An upper chamber containing propellant for the Apogee Boost Manoeuvre. A lower
chamber incorporating a communicating drainage device that enables virtually all of the remaining propellant to be
utilised.

1st generation surface tension tank

1. Upper chamber
2. Lower chamber
3. Intermediate bottom
4. Draining device
5. Screen in intermediate bottom
6. Screen in sump adapter
7. Gas port
8. Propellant port
9. Venting device

 

 

2nd Generation OST 21/0, 22/X, 23/0, 24/0

The 2nd generation of surface tension tank was developed for bipropellant propulsion systems.
The propellant management device is common to a variety of different propellant tank geometries.

The main feature of the tank is a Propellant Refillable Reservoir (PRR) for larger quantities of
propellant to support high acceleration station keeping manoeuvres.

Replenishment of the PRR is performed by high efficiency Propellant Acquisition Vanes (PAV) within a short period of time
and in low acceleration phases.

Special mesh screens ensure that only gas free propellant is admitted to the propellant outlet.


1. Propellant Acquisition Vanes
2. Propellant refillable reservoir
3. Upper screen
4. Lower screen
5. Propellant port
6. Venting tube
7. Gas port

 

 

 

 3rd Generation OST 31/0

The 3rd generation of surface tension tank was developed for monopropellant systems.

The main feature of this generation tank is a highly effective Propellant Management Device enabling
propellant pumping to the outlet port in real time with the consumption of the thrusters.

 

1. Propellant acquisition vanes
2. Gas port
3. Propellant port
4. Sump plate

 

 

 

 Surface Tension Propellant Tank Range

 

 104 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 31/0

 

78 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 31/0

Volume (net)

Propellant volume

Propellant

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressurant gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- fluid ports

- PMD

Heritage

104 litres

78 litres (Blow down 4:1)

Hydrazine (N2H4)

24.6 bar

36.9 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

49.2 bar (2 x MEOP)

6.4 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Spherical

Pole mounting, rigidly fixed at propellant port boss.

 

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.7)

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.1)

All titanium.

Globalstar, Theos, Pleiades, RocSat

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 31-0

 

 

 176 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 33/0

 

Volume (net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressurant gas

Geometry


Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- trunnion/ports

- PMD

Heritage

176.5 litres

Hydrazine (N2H4)

24.63 bar

36.95 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

49.26 bar (2 x MEOP)

13.5 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Spherical, elliptical domes with or without variable length
cylindrical intersections

4 equatorial trunnions with MJ16 x 1 thrAstrium.

 

Ti6AI4V STA (3.7164.7)

Ti6Al4V st (3.7164.1)

Ti6Al4V st (3.7164.1)

Cosmo /SkyMed .

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 33-0

 

 

 177 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 31/1

 

Volume (net)

Propellant volume

Propellant

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressurant gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- fluid ports

- PMD

Heritage

177 litres

132 litres (Blow down 4:1)

Hydrazine (N2H4)

24 bar

36 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

48 bar (2 x MEOP)

<15 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Spherical, elliptical domes with or without variable length cylindrical intersections.

Pole mounting, rigidly fixed at propellant port boss.

 

Ti6AI4V STA (Hemisphere and Rings 3.7164.7)

Ti6AI4V annealed (3,7164.1)

All titanium.

Aeolus

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 31-1

 

 

 235 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 21/0

 

235 Litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 21/0

Volume (net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressurant gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- suspension port

- PMD

- screens

Heritage

235 litres

MON, MMH

22.0 bar

33.0 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

44.0 bar (2 x MEOP)

16 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Spherical with cylindrical intersection

12 suspension tabs with M6 x 1 floating nuts

 

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.7)

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.1)

Ti99.4 (3.7034.1) and Ti6Al4V (3.7164.1)

304L (1.4306), qualified also for Ti99.4 (3.7025.1)

Amos

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 21-0

 

 

282 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 25/0

 

Volume (net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressurant gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- suspension port

- PMD

- screens

Heritage

282 litres

MON, MMH

22.0 bar

 

 

21.0 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Cassini with a cylindrical Intersection

12 suspension tabs with M6 x 1 floating nuts

 

Ti6Al4V sta (3.7164.7)

Ti6Al4V sta (3.7164.1)

Ti99.4 (3.7034.1) and Ti6Al4V (3.7164.1)

304L (1.4306), qualified also for Ti99.4 (3.7025.1)

Amos 2, Amos 3

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 25-0

 

 

 235 to 516 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 01/X

 

235 to 516 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 01/X

Volume (net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressure gas

Geometry


Interface fixation


Materials

- pressure vessel

- suspension port

- PMD

- screens

PMD

 

 

 

 

 

Heritage

235 to 516 litres

MON, MMH

17.5 bar

26.25 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

41.8 bar (2 x MEOP)

16 to 29 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Spherical, elliptical or cassini domes with or without variable
length cylindrical intersections.

From 3 to 24 suspension tabs with floating nuts, respectively
polar bearings.

 

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.7)

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.1)

Ti99.4 (3.7034.1) and Ti6Al4V (3.7164.1)

304L (1.4306), qualified also for Ti99.4 (3.7025.1)

The surface tension Propellant Management Device (PMD) is
specifically designed for a Unified geostationary satellite
Propulsion System
(UPS).

The tank consists of two chambers. A large upper chamber for
Apogee Boost Motor propellant. A smaller lower chamber having
a full communication draining device for principally unlimited
liquid expulsion during attitude and orbit control manoeuvres.

All main functional performance characteristics may be
controlled on ground.

TV-Sat, TDF, Tele-X, Italsat, DFS (Kopernikus), Eutelsat-2,
Turksat, Nahuel, Insat-2A to D.

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 01-X

 

 

 700 to 1108 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 22/X

 

700 to 1108 litre surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 22/X

Volume(net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressure gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- suspension port

- PMD

- screens

Application

 

PMD

 

 

 

 

Functional performance


Heritage

 

700 to 1108 litres

MON, MMH

19.5 bar

24.37 bar (1.25 x MEOP)

29.25 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

36 to 49 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Cassini domes with variable length cylindrical intersections

24 suspension tabs with M8 x 1 floating nuts

 

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.7)

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.1)

Ti99.4 (3.7034.1) and Ti6Al4V (3.7164.1)

304L (1.4306), qualified also for Ti99.4 (3.7025.1)

Tank qualification is for hypergolic bipropellant propulsion systems having a liquid apogee boost motor of 400 N thrust and AOCS thrusters of up to 22 N thrust.

The PMD assures the expulsion of bubble-free propellant under micro-g conditions. The PMD comprises 4 Propellant Acquisition Vanes (PAV) and a Propellant Refillable Reservoir (PRR).

The PRR assures that propellant is expelled under conditions of variable disturbance accelerations, direction and level.

During micro-g coast phases, the PAV's automatically transfer propellant to replenish the PRR.

These tanks are designed for the unified propulsion system and manoeuvres of geostationary satellites. Namely, the transfer from GTO to GEO and subsequent AOCS manoeuvres.

Artemis, Arabsat 2, Cesasat, Eutelsat W24, Arabsat BSS, Thaicom 3, Sinosat, Sirius. GEII, Astra 1K, HotBird, Sircal

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 22-X

 

 

 769 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 23/0

 

769 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 23/0

Volume (net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressurant gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- suspension/ports

- PMD

- screens

Heritage

769 litres

MON, MMH

17.5 bar

26.25 bar (1.5 x MEOP)

35.00 bar (2 x MEOP)

31.7 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Spherical

24 suspension tabs with M8 x 1 floating nuts.

 

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.7)

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.1)

Ti99.4 (3.7034.1) and Ti6Al4V (3.7164.1)

304L (1.4306), qualified also for Ti99.4 (3.7025.1)

Insat-SE

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 23-0

 

 

 1207 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 24/0

 

1207 litre Surface Tension Propellant Tank OST 24/0

Volume (net)

Propellants

MEOP

Proof pressure

Burst pressure

Mass

Pressure gas

Geometry

Interface fixation

Materials

- pressure vessel

- suspension/ports

- PMD

- screens

Heritage

1207 litres

MON, MMH

tbd bar

tbd bar (1.5 x MEOP)

tbd bar (2 x MEOP)

52.5 kg

Helium or nitrogen

Cassini domes with cylindrical intersection

24 suspension tabs with M10 x 1.25 floating nuts.

 

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.7)

Ti6AlV st (3.7164.1)

Ti99.4 (3.7034.1) and Ti6Al4V (3.7164.1)

304L (1.4306), qualified also for Ti99.4 (3.7025.1)

Astra 1K

More Information
PDF Brochure
PDF Brochure - Propellant Tank OST 24-0

 

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