MEET TEAM 514

Jean Ambrose
Materials Engineer
jha18b@gmail.com

Jean will graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. She will enter the industry upon graduation. Her interests include cryogenics, gas dynamics, propulsion, and statistical analysis.

Gabrielle Mayans
Fluids Engineer
gsm16b@my.fsu.edu

Gabrielle Mayans is a Research Intern at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and a Teaching Assistant for Thermal Fluids II. She will be graduating this Spring 2022, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, as a first-generation college student. She plans to further her education by going to graduate school at FAMU-FSU, starting the Summer of 2022, for her Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Some of her interests lay in cryogenics, thermal fluid sciences, and sustainable power generation

King Paul
Systems Engineer
kp18@my.fsu.edu

King will graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. This summer he will begin his career as an entry level mechanical engineer working at the National Security Campus in Kansas City, operated by Honeywell. King is interested in automotives, additive manufacturing, and learning about new and emerging technologies.

Aaron Wolfson
Systems Engineer
acw16e@my.fsu.edu

Aaron will be commissioning into the United States Space Force as a Second Lieutenant after graduation. He will be stationed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station working as a Developmental Engineer.

SPONSORS AND ADVISORS

Abstract

       Measuring fuel levels of a cryogenic propellant is an important role in furthering space travel. Due to the microgravity environment of space and cryogenic exposure, this is a difficult problem with limited solutions. The purpose of this project is to develop a liquid detection system that monitors and gauges fuel within a rocket.
           
       Cryogenic propellants, such as liquid methane and liquid hydrogen, are used for rocket fuel. These fluids have a low boiling point of approximately -253°C. Once past the boiling point, the liquid will change phase, from liquid to gas. The liquid state of these cryogens is used for fuel while the gas is useless. Heat leaks in from the walls of the tank, causing this phase transition. Once in space, the gas forms into bubbles and collect at the center of the tank.


       NASA has supplied the Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS) used for this project. Optical fibers utilize Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG), which are lightweight and can withstand a cryogenic environment, making them a viable option for this application. The FBG sensors along the optical fiber determine the state of the fluid, gas or liquid.
 
      The design will include a structure that has several rings, used to thread the fiber optic cables in the shape of a helix. The fiber optic cable will encompass the center of the tank, surrounding the bubbles that form, to determine where they begin and end. Once the amount of gas is determined, the liquid volume can be calculated.

      This detection system will monitor the amount of fuel before and after thrust maneuvers. The precise amount of fuel needed for space travel can be determined from these readings, decreasing the extra fuel storage and the overall weight of the shuttle, which is crucial for aerospace applications.