Flight Vehicle Propellant Tanks

CAD (SolidWorks), Pressure Vessel Design, Tank Sizing, Design Iteration

Design flight vehicle tanks for N2, LOX, and kerosene that integrate cleanly into a short-duration flight vehicle and withstand a 2000 psi working pressure for a 7-second burn time mission profile.

• Pressure rating: 2000 psi working pressure
• Vehicle integration: Geometry and mounting features compatible with flight vehicle packaging constraints
• Propellants: Support LOX and kerosene storage + N2 pressurant compatibility
• Mass & volume: Sized to supply a 7-second burn while minimizing tank mass and unused volume
• Manufacturability: Tank geometry and features designed for realistic fabrication and assembly
• Serviceability: Fill/drain/vent interfaces and access designed for ground operations

• My role: tank CAD + sizing ownership

  I owned the CAD design of the flight vehicle tanks and the tank sizing work to meet the mission duration while respecting packaging constraints and pressure requirements.

• Tank sizing (volumetric + mission-driven)

  I sized N2, LOX, and kerosene volumes from the 7-second burn requirement and propellant needs, then translated those volumes into practical tank dimensions and ullage targets. This ensured the tanks were neither undersized (risking depletion) nor oversized (adding unnecessary mass and packaging complexity).

• Pressure vessel geometry & layout

  I developed the tank geometry with pressure-capable features and clean load paths (e.g., cylindrical sections with endcaps), then iterated the layout to support integration hardware, fill/drain/vent interfaces, and sensor/line routing.

Key outcomes:

• Delivered a flight-vehicle tank CAD design for N2, LOX, and kerosene that supports integration and ground operations.
• Sized tanks to meet a 7-second burn mission requirement while balancing mass, volume, and packaging constraints.
• Designed a pressure vessel concept capable of withstanding 2000 psi working pressure for short-duration flight vehicle operation.

Future improvements:

• Verification: Add detailed structural verification (hand calcs + FEA) and proof/burst margin planning
• Interfaces: Finalize fittings, fill/drain/vent routing, and instrumentation locations
• Weight: Optimize wall thickness and mounting features for mass reduction