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Science

backscatter712

(26,355 posts)

6. Could you keep the liquid helium in a tank inside the liquid hydrogen?

Reply to DetlefK (Reply #5)

Fri Nov 30, 2012, 11:34 PM

Nov 2012

Since liquid hydrogen is the Skylon's fuel, and it boils at 14K, maybe that would make it easier to store the liquid helium - not as much insulation required.

In other words, use the fuel tank in place of the LN2 cryostat layer.

And you've got LH2 fuel pipes running out to the engines already, so you might as well use them to encapsulate the LHe lines and help keep them cold.

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Skylon's Sabre engine passes key tests, endorsed by European Space Agency. [View all] backscatter712 Nov 2012 OP

My best guess how they did it: DetlefK Nov 2012 #1

My understanding is that the precooler chills the air with a fine network of tubes of liquid helium. backscatter712 Nov 2012 #2

Liquid Helium is too fickle and too expensive DetlefK Nov 2012 #3

All my googling indicates the SABRE does use liquid helium. backscatter712 Nov 2012 #4

I still can't wrap my head around this DetlefK Nov 2012 #5

Could you keep the liquid helium in a tank inside the liquid hydrogen? backscatter712 Nov 2012 #6

OK, I goofed - when I reread the news on the SABRE engine, it uses gaseous helium in the precooler. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #7