AIT of Thrust Chambers and Cryogenic Valves

TEST - ROCKET ENGINE THRUST CHAMBER

Thrust chamber testing includes:

	Pressure tests with gaseous helium up to 250 bar and with de-ionised water up to 300 bar.
	Leak tightness tests with gaseous helium up to 10 -10 mbar with integral and local vacuum and excess pressure methods.
	Thermal tests from +180 °C to -196 °C
	Follow-through tests with - deionised water from 0.001 lt/s to 60 lt/sec - gaseous nitrogen from 0.15 m³/hr to 5,000 m³/h
	The above tests are performed on specifically developed test stands together with state-of-the-art measuring equipment, data recording and test data evaluation.

 

FACILITIES

Thrust chamber test facilities include:

	Water cooling channel flowback facility up to 16 bar for all combustion chambers.
	Thermal test facility for thrust chamber components, including inlet and outlet manifolds, injector heads etc.
	GN2 Robot facility.
	Water flowcheck facility up to 40 bar for all combustion chambers.

 

 

TEST - CRYOGENIC PROPELLANT VALVE

Valve testing is performed in conjunction with specially developed test stands, state-of-the-art measuring equipment, data recording and test data evaluation. Typical tests include:

	Pressure tests using nitrogen and helium up to 300 bar.
	Leak tightness tests using helium mass spectrometers in the temperature range from +100 °C to approximately -270 °C.
	Thermal tests from +180 °C to -196 °C.
	Follow-through tests in the range around -150 °C. - with gaseous nitrogen up to 2,000 g/sec. - with gaseous helium up to 800 g/sec.
	Functional testing of electromagnetic and pneumatic valve systems.

 

FACILITIES

Valve integration facilities include:

	Clean room class 1000.
	3-axis interface measuring machine having an accuracy of 2 µm.
	Vacuum drying chamber with GN2 supply.
	Force / stroke test stand.
	Cleaning facility with ultrasonic baths and hot air drying oven.
	Clean bench equipment - class 100.
	Endoscopic equipment with video recording.

After the official acceptance test, it is necessary to inspect the valves to be able to guarantee that their function is not impaired by, for example - rinsed out fuel particles. The follow-through area and the internal valve area are designed for particles larger than 30 µm.

Valve test facilities include test stands dedicated to each type of valve tested, for example:

	Liquid nitrogen test stand for the Ariane 5 Vulcain main feed valve
	Temperature Range: Media: Pilot Pressure Feed Valve: Pilot Pressure Chilldown Valve: Media Pressure: Leakage internal: Leakage external:	77 - 293 K GHe < 105 bar < 45 bar < 25 bar 0.001 - 200 cm³/sec > 10-5 mbar/sec

 

Force versus stroke test stand for feed, isolation and NW70 valve.   Force: Stroke: < 5,000 N 100 mm

Thrust / mass flow measurement test stand for Ariane 5 roll control assembly.   Thrust: Mass flow: Operating Media: < 2,000 / 5,000 N < 1,000 g/sec GHe

If you require more detailed information on any of our products or services, then please contact us, indicating your particular areas of interest or intended application. Your enquiry will receive our best attention.