The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-a public sector enterprize has delivered the biggest cryogenic propellant tank-C32 LH2 ever fabricated by the company to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
What is C32-LH2 tank?
- It is a developmental cryogenic propellant tank of aluminium alloy designed for improving the payload capability of GSLV MK-III launching vehicle.
- The four meter diametric tank is of eight meter length to load 5755 kilograms of propellant in the 89 cubic meter volume.
- Total length of weld carried out in the tank was 115 meter at different stages to the quality requirement of 100% tests on radiography, Die penetrant check and Leak proof. HAL has mastered the skills and technologies required for fabricating welded propellant tank of Aluminium ally to such stringent quality requirement.
What are Cryogenic propellants?
- According to the NASA, Cryogenic propellants are gasses chilled to subfreezing temperatures and condensed to form highly combustible liquids—provide high-energy propulsion solutions critical to future,
- long-term human exploration missions beyond low-Earth
- orbit (LEO).
- A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages.
- Specific impulse (a measure of the efficiency) achievable with cryogenic propellants (liquid Hydrogen and liquid Oxygen) is much higher compared to earth storable liquid and solid propellants, giving it a substantial payload advantage.
- The propellants, at low temperatures (Oxygen liquifies at -183 deg C and Hydrogen at -253 deg C) are to be pumped using turbo pumps running at around 40,000 rpm.
(Sources: HAL, NASA and ISRO)
