Helium loading
Helium is loaded into the HP helium tank at 200 bars. The Bauer junior compressor is used. Nominal flow is 100 liters pr. minute, so the loading is expected to last 200 minutes or more. Initially direct bleed form HP tanks can be used.
Systems check out
Valve / igniter checkout
Connect HP nitrogen valve operating gas.
Adjust HP nitrogen valve operating gas pressure to 1,0 Mpa
Connect igniter emulator
Connect control cable.
Check igniter emulator operation. Control box position 1
Check main valve operation. Control box position 2
Check propellant vapor valve operation. Control box position 3
Check shut down positions, main valves closed, propellant vapor valves open, pressurization valve closed.
Disconnect HP nitrogen operating gas.
Disconnect control cable.
Regulator checkout
__ __Open main helium valve on HP helium tank.
Adjust regulator operating pressure to the pressure desired (nominal 2,0 Mpa )
Close main helium valve.
__Propellant Loading
__
Fuel Loading
Check main valves closed
Check primer valve closed
Check fuel tank top valve open
Fuel loading begins.
Fuel is 10 volume ethanol 93 % diluted with 2.4 volume tap water
Fuel loading ends when level is at upper fuel tank dome.
Fuel priming.
Fuel primer valve opens. Priming continues until engine injector fuel overflow is observed.
T- 3 hours
Oxidizer loading
Timer started
Check the manual LOX vapor valve on top of LOX tank is open.
The oxidizer connection hose is connected. Valve on storage tank is opened. The flow to the oxidizer tank is controlled ONLY by the valve on the oxidizer tank. Oxidizer hose remains connected. DO NOT CLOSE both valves at either end of the oxidizer hose, with time the hose will burst.
Oxidizer loading is finished when level is at upper LOX tank dome (350 liter level).
T - 1 hour
Oxidizer top up round one
Oxidizer evaporation rate is measured, and the tank topped up to full.
Time is noted
T- 45 min
Oxidizer top op round two
Oxidizer evaporation rate is measured, and the tank topped up to full.
Time is noted
T- 30 min
Oxidizer top op round three
Oxidizer evaporation rate is measured, and the tank topped up to full.
Time is noted.
The engine is now in “safe stand by” mode, ready for final procedure and ignition.
Final procedure
T- 25 min
Install live nozzle mounted igniter.
T- 15 min.
Connect igniter cable.
Disarm valves: disconnet HP nitrogen line from "open side" of actuator
T- 10 min.
Connect HP nitrogen operating gas.
Build in planned HOLD begins.
__T- 9 min
__
Arm valves: Connect HP nitrogen to "open side" of actuator
Verify valve positions:
1. Main valves closed
2. LOX vapor valve open, pressurization valve closed (lever arm is in position “up”)
Open main helium valve.
Final check of tanks valves
Close top valve on fuel tank
Close top valve on oxidizer tank
Close oxidizer fill valve
Loosen oxidizer fill hose till oxidizer leaks.
Close storage tank valve.
Disconnect LOX hose
Service tower pull back
Regulator final check
Check HP helium regulation pressure, and adjust to 2,0 Mpa
Verify control box in position 0 (Engine off)
Connect control cable.
Note the time. Engine is ready for ignition.
T- 9 min
Countdown resumed.
Final countdown begins.
Start cameras
Start data acquisition
T-3 min
Go/No-Go call.
T- 15 sec
Start Water Sound Suppression System (WSSS).
Both pumps at max rated power / 25 ltr / sec and 40 / ltr sec
Verify WSSS in operation.
T- 8 sec
Control box to position 1 (igniter fires).
Verify igniter is firing
T- 3 sec
Control box to position 2. (Main valves open, ignition. Pre-stage burn).
Verify pre-burn ignition.
Control box to position 3.
Pressurization and ramp up to main stage burn.
Verify smooth engine burn
T+20 sec
Control box to position 0 (Engine shutdown)
To be done at first sign of one or both propellants depleting or at T+20 sec.
Tanks depressurization.
Water Sound Suppression System shutdown.
T+ 3min
When tanks down to low pressure, all fire out, service tower back.
Post burn procedure
Secure data
Camera shutdown, secure media.
Oxidizer tank top valve open
Fuel top valve open
Measure level of oxidizer
Measure level of fuel
Oxidizer residue dump
Engine safe.
Transmission Ends.
