Surface tension screen failure detection method and apparatus
Abstract
Apparatus for detecting failure of a surface tension screen disposed between a holding chamber and a main chamber of a tank includes a fixture for supporting the tank in desired test orientations, a drive mechanism on the fixture for rotating the tank and an ultrasonic transducer was in making a measurement with respect to the position of an interface between liquid and gas contained in the holding chamber of the tank. The holding and main chambers are tandemly arranged along a longitudinal axis of the tank and are each substantially filled by a liquid propellant with respective volumes of gas contained in each chamber. The fixture supports the tank in a first orientation with a nose of the tank pointing downwardly and tank longitudinal axis extending approximately 60 deg above horizontal and to the right of vertical and in a second orientation with the tank nose pointing upwardly and tank longitudinal axis extending approximately 60 deg above horizontal and to the left of vertical. Separate measurements are made after rotation of the tank in each of these orientations. These measurements are indicative of the volumes of gas in the holding chamber at the respective orientations. Comparison of the measurements provides an assessment of the integrity of the surface tension screen. If the measurements are significantly different, then this indicates that gas leakage has taken place across the screen and that the screen has therefore failed.
- Publication:
-
Air Force Interim Report
- Pub Date:
- December 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985aifo.reptU....F
- Keywords:
-
- Acoustics;
- Detection;
- Failure;
- Fuel Tanks;
- Interfacial Tension;
- Signal Detection;
- Ullage;
- Ultrasonic Radiation;
- Gases;
- Nondestructive Tests;
- Patents;
- Instrumentation and Photography