Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) testing in Liquid Oxygen (LOX) B J - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Total Hydrocarbon Content (THC) testing in Liquid Oxygen (LOX) B J Meneghelli 1 , R E Obregon 2 , H R Ross 2 , B J Hebert 2 , J P Sass 3 and G E Dirschka 3 1 Vencore ESC, Cryogenics Test Laboratory, KSC, FL 32899 USA 2 NASA Stennis Space Center, SSC, MS 39529, USA 3 NASA Kennedy Space Center, KSC, FL 32899, USA June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 1

THC testin ing in in LOX • Background • Test Facility • Test Hardware • Test Results • Conclusions June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 2

THC testin ing in in LOX • Background • Limits on THC levels in LOX are based on customer requirements • THC levels in LOX delivered to SSC • Vendor sample analysis not in agreement with SSC sample analysis • SSC analysis showed HIGHER THC values compared to vendor reported data • Increased lab analysis of LOX; increased SSC costs • THC levels in storage/run tanks • Increased over time • Consequences • LOX losses due to dumping of out of spec commodity • Increased commodity costs due to additional sample analysis • Program testing delays • Mitigation opportunities June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 3

THC Testin ing in in LOX SSC Test Stand SSC Test Stand – LOX Storage Tank June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 4

THC Testin ing in in LOX SSC Test Stand June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 5

THC Testin ing in in LOX LOX Run Tank Dip Tube Diagram Flanged interface 85% fill level (SP 2) 70% fill level (SP 3) 55% fill level (SP 4) 28 ft (11,500 gals) 40% fill level (SP 5) 25% fill level (SP 6) 15% fill level (SP 7) 5% fill level (SP 8) SSC Test Stand Tank Bottom (SP 1) LOX Run Tank June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 6

THC Testin ing in in LOX Flanged Interface Dip Tube Valving June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 7

THC Testin ing in in LOX Cryogenic Properties of Select Fluids at NBP Property Units Parahydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen Methane Krypton Normal boiling point (NBP) °F -423.18 -320.43 -297.33 -258.67 -244.16 lbm/ft 3 4.42 50.32 71.24 26.37 150.86 Density Heat of vaporization Btu/lbm 191.89 85.69 91.66 219.76 46.06 Btu/lbm-°R 2.325 0.488 0.406 0.832 0.124 Specific Heat, C p Viscosity lbm/ft-sec 8.957E-06 1.079E-04 1.308E-04 7.849E-05 2.742E-04 Thermal conductivity Btu/hr-ft-°F 0.05981 0.0837 0.08717 0.10623 0.06354 Critical temperature °F -400.38 -232.52 -181.42 -116.65 -82.61 Critical pressure psia 186.49 492.52 731.43 667.06 801.33 Temperature at triple point °F -434.82 -346.00 -361.82 -296.42 -251.28 Pressure at triple point psia 1.02 1.82 0.02 1.70 10.67 SSC Gas & Materials Science June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 8

THC Testin ing in in LOX THC Data (LOX Run Tank) THC Values (ppm) - ALL VALUES Sample Date Elapsed Time DT 1 DT 2 DT 3 DT 4 DT 5 DT 6 DT 7 From Initial (85% Full) (70% Full) (55% Full) (40% Full) (25% Full) (15% Full) (5% Full) Tank Bottom Fill (Days) 03/12/15 0 35.4 03/16/15 4 39.3 38.5 39 40.6 39.1 39.2 37.9 43.9 03/23/15 11 13.9 40.1 43.1 41.3 40.9 41.1 40.3 41.6 03/31/15 19 14.97 33.12 39.3 41.7 40 42.2 40.1 52.4 04/06/15 25 15.9 32.7 44.9 43.1 43.7 43.8 43.7 50.2 04/13/15 32 17 34.1 16.8 52.3 48.7 48.9 50 55.5 04/21/15 40 18.9 27.7 19 52.7 52.8 54.4 52.8 65.5 04/27/15 46 20.8 27.1 20.8 20.6 64.2 66.8 61.7 74.4 05/04/15 53 23.2 26.3 23.4 23.4 69.6 71.2 73.7 88.7 05/11/15 60 28.3 34.3 28.1 28 28.2 95.3 92.3 120 05/18/15 67 36.7 42.6 36.3 35.6 36.3 36.7 132.4 135.1 05/26/15 75 66.9 68.64 65.59 67.46 71.3 72.46 362.3 05/29/15 78 133 699 NOTE: Values in Yellow are from Vapor samples June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 9

THC Testin ing in in LOX Run Tank (Dip Tube THC Values) LIQUID VALUES ONLY LOX (Tank Filled: 03/12/15) 750 DT 1 (Tank 85% Full) 700 DT 2 (Tank 70% Full) 650 DT 3 (Tank 55% Full) 600 DT 4 (Tank 40% Full) 550 DT 5 (Tank 25% Full) 500 DT 6 (Tank 15% Full) 450 DT 7 (Tank 5% Full) THC (ppm) 400 Tank Bottom 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Days (Post Fill) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 5 ( % Tank Fill) June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 10

THC Testin ing in in LOX Run Tank (Dip Tube THC Values) LOX VAPOR VALUES ONLY (Tank Filled: 03/12/15) 150 DT 1 (Tank 85% Full) 140 DT 2 (Tank 70% Full) 130 DT 3 (Tank 55% Full) 133 120 DT 4 (Tank 40% Full) Day 78: 110 Tank 5% Level DT 5 (Tank 25% Full) Melon Sample 100 DT 6 (Tank 15% Full) 90 THC (ppm) DT 7 (Tank 5% Full) 80 Tank Bottom 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Days (Post Fill) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 5 ( % Tank Fill) June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 11

THC Testin ing in in LOX Run Tank CH4 Values (Average) LOX THC Values (Average) THC & CH4 Analysis 800 699 700 699 600 500 THC/CH4 ppm 362 400 362 300 CH4 values not available; analyzer out of service 200 134 104 127 35 100 56 103 35 55 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 Days (Post Fill) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 5 ( % Tank Fill) June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 12

THC Testin ing in in CH4 Values (Average) LOX Run Tank LOX Krypton Values (Average) CH4 & Krypton Analysis 1200 1000 1100 900 1141 1000 800 699 900 700 800 CH4 & Kr 600 CH4 ppm 700 Kr ppm Inversions 500 600 508 500 400 362 400 300 300 200 127 200 67 100 100 114 53 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 Days (Post Fill) 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 5 ( % Tank Fill) SSC Gas & Materials Science June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 13

THC Testin ing in in THC in LOX Run Tank THC Avg in GOX LOX GOX Headspace vs LOX THC Avg in LOX 140 800 133 699 700 120 THC Relationship 600 100 No THC Relationship Forms Between Between GOX & LOX THC Avg in LOX (ppm) 500 THC Avg in GOX (ppm) GOX & LOX 80 69 400 60 362 300 37 40 29 200 24 24 134 20 100 45 103 76 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 Days(Post Fill 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 5 ( % Tank Fill) SSC Gas & Materials Science June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 14

THC Testin ing in in LOX • Mitigation of THC values • Dilution method developed • Based on simple chemistry of solutions • Does not account for potential transfer losses or boil-off Initial Initial Added Added Final Final Final Volume % Diff Volume Volume THC Volume Volume THC Volume Volume THC THC (ppm) (Predicted vs (gallons) (ppm) (gallons) (ppm) (gallons) (ppm) [PREDICTED] Measured) Tank 1 9800 55.6 12300 18 22100 34.1 34.7 1.8 (Horizontal) Tank 2 35400 112.4 12200 57.1 47600 101.7 99 -2.7 (Horizontal) June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 15

THC testin ing in in LOX • SUMMARY • THC values increase over time in tanks due to boil-off • Stratification of THC in tanks may be present • May occur when tank volume is less than 50% • Mitigations • Work with vendor to consistently obtain LOX with lower THC • Dumping of some LOX from tanks and/or dilution with low THC LOX • Using LOX with a high THC value to chill run lines followed by tank dilution with low THC LOX • Modeling of THC rise in tanks and projected THC levels over time can assist engine test programs • Replicate testing of LOX Run Tank in progress June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 16

Acknowledgements • Stennis Space Center • Bartt Hebert for support and guidance • LOX Test Stand Personnel (Rosa Obregon, Skip Roberts, et al) • Gas & Materials Science Laboratory Personnel (H.R. Ross, et al) • LOX Sample personnel • Steve Taylor, Phil Kopfinger, Billy Davis • Kennedy Space Center • Barry Meneghelli • Eric Dirschka • Jared Sass • Claire Offer June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 17

Backup In Information June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 18

P-T Diagram for Methane and Oxygen Methane Oxygen Vaporization Fusion Line Line Methane Vaporization Line Liquid Region Vapor Region Solid Region (Methane) (Methane) (Methane) P = 14.7 psia Methane NBP = -259 F • LOX temperature at the normal boiling point (NBP) is -297.33°F and is lower than the methane fusion temperature of -296.38°F at 14.7 psia; hence methane may be in the solid state when LOX is at the NBP. Also, Methane NBP = -259°F so LOX will boil first. June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 19

Cosmodyne TYPE TTU-131 Cryogenic Sampler June 30, 2015 CEC Conference, Tucson, AZ 20