The image to the right shows a fuel/oxidiser tank assembly for testing the prototype single FIDO engine (one of 8 that make up the Cerberus Aerospike Engine).
Designed to accept a variety of fuel/oxidiser combinations in both pressurised gaseous (up to 400 psi) and liquid form, the tanks slot into the rear of the engine test rig and mate with
filtering units before connecting to the fuel-flow assembly and thence to the engine itself.
Pressurisation comes from an external source and both tanks are pressurised equally. Although an analogue pressure indicator is shown in the picture, the tank pressure is also fed back
to the controlling electronics and telemetry via a pressure transducer. Two blowout disks are manufactued into the top of the tanks that are designed to act as a fail-safe should the pressure regulation exceed design limits.
Initial testing concentrates on the switchover from gaseous atomspheric oxygen as the oxidiser through to liquid Nitrous Oxide (N2O).
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Test Fuel and Oxidiser Tanks
Image Credit: NAs / Peter Jones
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