航天器燃料箱液位优化测量仿真研究

Simulation and Optimization of Level Measurement in Spacecraft Fuel Tank

燃料箱液位的实时、精确测量对提高航天器的有效运载能力和效率有着重大的现实意义。传统的液位测量模型存在装配及加工误差,毛细现象引起迟滞等问题。首次利用计算电容原理将双极筒的传感器结构改进为轻量化单管式。采用有限元法和ANSYS分析软件对结构参数进行了仿真分析,使灵敏度与极板间隙张角和石英管厚度呈正相关,与石英管内半径、屏蔽层与极板间距呈负相关。正交优化实验表明,极板间隙张角2°,石英管内半径11.5mm,石英管厚度1.6mm,屏蔽层与极板间距3mm时的灵敏度最优,相比原来提高了13%,为航天器燃料箱液位优化测量提供了可行方法。

The real-time and accurate level measurement in fuel tank has great realistic significance in improving the effective launch capacity and efficiency of spacecraft. The traditional level measurement modal has assembly and machining errors, and the capillarity may cause hysteresis. In the paper, the principle cross capacitance was adopt to modify the double cylinder sensor to lightweight single-tube. Then, the structure influence on the sensor sensitivity was analyzed using finite element software ANSYS. The results indicate that the sensitivity is positively correlated with the electrode gap angle and the quartz tube thickness. The inner radius of quartz tube, the distance between electrode and shield have a negative correlation with the sensitivity. The orthogonal optimization tests indicate that the optimal sensitivity is obtained when the electrode gap Angle is 2°, the inner radius of quartz tube is 11.5mm, the quartz tube thickness is 1.6mm, the distance between electrode and shield is 3mm, which can be increased by 13% of the origi- nal. The research provides a feasible method for optimizing level measurement in spacecraft fuel tank.