White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) performs testing that enables aerospace fluid and propulsion system designers to evaluate the risks and hazards associated with potential and existing materials, components, and system configurations. Tests are performed to evaluate the effect of a fluid on materials that comprise or may comprise a component or system as well as to determine the effect of the material on the fluid in terms of its performance specifications. This testing provides data related to the long-term functional performance of components in their end-use fluid. The types of fluids used include hypergols such as hydrazine, monomethylhydrazine (MMH), unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), and nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4). Other aerospace fluids typically tested include but are not limited to ammonia, fluorine, methane, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrogen. Hazards and risks are assessed using both liquid and solid propellants.
Test It Like
You Fly It
WSTF personnel have extensive experience in designing and conducting tests and experiments at various scales to assist our customers with evaluating material, component, and system-level performance of their propellant systems.
Hypergolic Fluids, Materials, and Components
WSTF performs laboratory-scale experiments and tests to determine and verify the properties of aerospace fluids. Tests include micro-calorimetry and accelerated rate calorimetry, flash point, fire point, differential scanning calorimetry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), adiabatic compression, and thermal runaway. Testing is performed on exposed and nonexposed materials per applicable NASA, military, and ASTM standards to determine how fluid exposure affects the material’s properties. Testing can consist of exposure to any of the fluids and properties can vary depending on the type of material being evaluated (soft good, metal, ceramic, lubricant, or other materials). Testing includes tensile strength, flexure, compression set, and hardness. Composition and glass transition temperature are tested when polymers are the subject material. Posttest analysis of fluids is performed after exposure to determine how material exposure may affect fluid specifications and performance.
Component-level analyses are conducted to identify materials of construction (metals and soft goods used for seals and seats, ceramics, sensing media, electrical components) to determine fluids compatibility. System-level analyses are conducted to consider the material change/degradation effects and how these changes affect component function. Recommendations are provided for increasing component/system reliability. Test systems are designed and fabricated to replicate or duplicate the component and system configurations; considering their intended use conditions, and perform tests to evaluate component/system functionality, usability, and safety.
System operational parameters are evaluated in support of in-flight and ground-system anomalies in propellant systems to ensure the aerospace fluids and the materials they are in contact with have no undesirable effects including high-surge pressures causing adiabatic compression decomposition; high cycle systems in which water hammer phenomena may cause fatigue of components leading to exposure of incompatible media to the fluids; high temperature environments causing thermal runaway; and liquid lock up situations coupled with thermal excursions causing over pressurization of system lines or components. Methodologies are developed to understand fluid behavior, identifying material interaction with aerospace fluids, and predicting the life of materials exposed to aerospace fluids. WSTF teaches courses on Hypergol Systems: Design, Buildup, and Operations and ensures operations comply with EPA Risk Management and OSHA Safety requirements. WSTF also offers a Totally Encapsulating Suit (TES) Bootcamp designed to improve team awareness of propellant system hazards and the course has received feedback that team performance and communication was greatly enhanced.
Hydrogen Systems
WSTF hydrogen test facilities are designed to allow gaseous tests to be conducted at pressures up to 6,000 psi and at flow rates up to 5 pounds per second. Materials and component tests are conducted with hydrogen in both the gaseous and liquid state. These tests are performed to determine compatibility with hydrogen to enhance safe use, or to determine life-cycle issues during acceptance test and qualification of flight hardware. Testing is also conducted as part of the design and development stages of flight components.
WSTF expertise is provided for component and system hazard analyses, research and development for hydrogen system design and hazards associated with hydrogen, and unique support on hydrogen system analysis and hydrogen hazards analysis in a flight environment.
Analyses and testing are conducted in support of in-flight and ground-based anomalies in hydrogen systems on propulsion and fuel cell systems. Experts in hydrogen safety, hydrogen hazards analysis, and hydrogen system-design actively participate in the technical community and on consensus standard committees (e.g., ASTM, AIAA, JANNAF) and collaborate with the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Technologies and Vehicle Technologies programs.
WSTF develops and updates existing hydrogen safety guides and standards, and training and educational material as the relevant body of knowledge expands. Training courses are provided to WSTF, other NASA, and other government and industry personnel in domestic and foreign locations.
WSTF is developing systems capable of testing at pressures beyond
15,000 psig GH2 to increase our capabilities and test newer hydrogen storage and production technologies such as metal hydrides, electrolyzers, chemical hydrogen generators.
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Contacts
Ralph Lucero, 575.524.5345, ralph.e.lucero@nasa.gov
Terence Kelly, 575.524.5425, terence.j.kelly@nasa.gov
Michelle Meerscheidt, 575.524.5382, michelle.l.meerscheidt@nasa.gov