3 ms·
I also don't know, but wouldn't it be gaseous oxygen? Edit: The tank isn't at vacuum. It started full of liquid oxygen. I assume (without researching) that the
by argiopetech 3y ago
I also don't know, but wouldn't it be gaseous oxygen?
Edit:
The tank isn't at vacuum. It started full of liquid oxygen. I assume (without researching) that the oxygen would change phase and fill the void with gas as the liquid is pumped out.
- pfdietz 3y agoThat would just cool the LOX and ultimately cause it to freeze. Such a system would require a heater, and even then there could be problems from sloshing causing the pressurizing gas to condense. Overall, it's less of a problem in pump fed rockets, since the gas only has to pressurize the propellant up to the inlet pressure of the pumps, not above the pressure of the rocket thrust chamber as it would in tank pressure fed rockets.
- noduerme 3y agoWhat happens if the liquid oxygen is boiling as it's fed to the pump....?
- pfdietz 3y agoPumps require a certain inlet pressure or they will experience cavitation. I think a liquid close to boiling would make this worse.
- argiopetech 3y agoAh, I hadn't considered that it might be pressurized with an inert gas. Thanks!
- pfdietz 3y agoAlso, Falcon 9 now uses subcooled LOX (at 66K) to increase its density.