Compact, cylindrical gas diffuser with radial exhaust slots and internal axial flow channels maintains the necessary pressure for the desired withdrawal rate of cryogenic liquids from tanks. The diffuser minimizes pressure loss which results from condensation of nitrogen gas in the liquid and prevents direct impingement of gas jets on liquid surface to reduce turbulence

Dunn, J. D.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

5as Flow 
July 1966	 Brief 66-10342 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U. S. space 
program and to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Gas Diffuser Facilitates Withdrawal of Cryogenic Liquids from Tanks 
Chamber 
The problem:	 liquid surface. Turbulence caused by direct impinge- 
To withdraw liquid oxygen from a tank, nitrogen 	 ment of the pressurizing gas entering the tank can 
gas is often fed through a diffuser into the vapor space 	 introduce significant errors in measurements of the 
above the surface of the liquid to maintain the neces- 	 liquid level. 
sary pressure for the desired withdrawal rate. A dif-	 The solution: 
fuser was required to minimize the loss of pressure 	 A compact, cylindrical gas diffuser having radial 
that would result from the condensation or solution of 	 exhaust slots and internal axial flow channels. This 
large amounts of nitrogen gas in the liquid and to	 design provides efficient gas flow, a 50-percent open 
orevent direct impingement of the gas jets on the 	 area, and the desired velocity profile. 
-	 - -
	 (continued over(cai( 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19660000341 2020-03-11T17:39:57+00:00Z
How it's done: 
The diffuser, fabricated from stainless steel bar 
stock, is flanged to the gas line and concentrically 
located in the top of the tank. A center hole in the 
diffuser admits the gas into a small end chamber 
which facilitates gas flow distribution to several 
equally spaced axial holes. Radial slots machined 
through the diffuser wall direct the gas flow at 90 
degrees to its axis, and thus parallel to the surface of 
the liquid in the tank.
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B66-10342 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: J. D. Dunn 
of North American Aviation, Inc. 
under contract to 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(MFS-9 15) 
Brief 66-10342	 Category 05


Gas diffuser facilitates withdrawal of cryogenic liquids from tanks

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