Accurate control of rocket fuel March 1st 2005 For the last three years, Spirax Sarco electrically actuated valves have been providing accurate temperature control for processing solid rocket propellant at Roxel UK in Kidderminster.
With production continuing around the clock, the reliability of the three valves is crucial.
Each valve controls the curing temperature of batches of different propellants by modulating steam flow into air heater batteries in specially built curing buildings.
Each curing process lasts up to four days and calls for temperatures of 45, 60 and 65°C to be maintained to within ±2°C.
Chart recorders monitoring the curing temperature reveal that the valves easily exceed this accuracy.
Chris Lain, Roxel UK’s facilities design engineer, says “They are well within ±1°C, coping with changes in atmospheric temperature and variations in steam supply. We’ve had no problems since they were installed.” More articles from Spirax Sarco Ltd: |