https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19730014827 2019-03-27T22:01:38+00:00Z NASA CR-121118 COPY FINAL REPORT INVESTIGATION OF CRYOGENIC RUPTURE DISC DESIGN by J. B. Keough and A. H. Oldland MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION Prepared for NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION NASA Lewis Research Center Contract NAS3-14345 Thomas W. Godwin, Project Manager 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. NASA CR-121U8 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date April 1973 Investigation of Cryogenic Rupture Disc Design 6. Performing Organization Code 04236 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. James B. Keough Alan H. Oldland 10. Work Unit No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address Martin Marietta Corporation P. 0. Box 179 11. Contract or Grant No. Denver, Colorado 80201 NAS3-14345 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Final Report 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address July 1970 to May 1972 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lewis Research Center 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Cleveland, Ohio 44135 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract Rupture disc designs of both the active (command actuated) and passive (pressure ruptured) types were evaluated for performance characteristics at cryogenic temperatures and for capability to operate in a variety of cryogens, including gaseous and liquid fluorine. The test results, coupled with information from literature and industry searches, were used to establish a state- ment of design criteria and recommended practices for application of rupture discs to cryogenic rocket propellant feed and vent systems. 17. Key Words (Suggested by Author(s)) 18. Distribution Statement Rupture Discs Distribution of this document is unlimited. Cryogenics Burst Discs Active Discs Ordnance Operated Valves 19. Security Classif, (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price* Unclassified Unclassified * For sale by the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151 NASA-C-168 (Rev. 6-71) FOREWORD The work described herein was conducted by the Martin Marietta Corporation, Denver Division, under NASA Contract NAS3-14345. Work was done under the management of the NASA Project Manager, Mr. Thomas W. Godwin, NASA-Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, Chemical Rocket Evaluation Bench. 111 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page FOREWORD . . . '. iii CONTENTS. ....... '. '.:•.".".: ".'•••.' ••.•'• V ABSTRACT ix SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 4 Background 4 Approach . . . . . 6 PASSIVE RUPTURE DISC PROGRAM. . 8 Study of Design. Concepts. . . .» 8 Cryogenic Testing (Task II', Phase I) 16 Cryogenic Testing (Task II, Phase II) 41 Fluorine Testing (Task IV). . 51 Materials Testing 53 ACTIVE RUPTURE DISC PROGRAM 55 Study of Design Concepts 55 Cryogenic Testing (Task II, Phase I). * 66 Cryogenic Testing (Task II, Phase II) 75 Water Flow Testing (Task III) 80 Fluorine Compatibility Testing (Task IV) 84 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 87 Passive Disc Results 87 Active Disc Results ..... 100 CONCLUSIONS 105 REFERENCES 106 BIBLIOGRAPHY. . .......... 107 APPENDIX A DESIGN CRITERIA AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES. A-l APPENDIX B REQUEST FOR RUPTURE DISC PROPOSALS . B-l APPENDIX C PASSIVE RUPTURE DISC RELIABILITY ANALYSIS........... C-l APPENDIX D DESIGN A TEST DATA . D-l APPENDIX E DISTRIBUTION LIST . . . .E-l FIGURES NO. TITLE PAGE 1 Passive Disc Design Evaluation Sheet ... 9 2 Design A 11 3 Design B 11 4 Design C 12 5 Design D 12 6 Design E 13 7 Design F 13 8 Design G 14 9 One Inch (2.5 cm) Diameter Passive Disc - Design B 17 10 Design C - Outlet View 18 11 Design G - Passive Disc 19 12 Test Fixture Schematic 20 13 Passive Disc Test Installation 21 14 Cryogenic Static Test Fixture 21 15 Phase I Passive Disc Performance - Design G 24 16 Phase I Passive Disc Performance - Design C 25 17 Phase I Passive Disc Performance - Design B 26 18 Effect of Disc Wrinkling on Rupture Pressure - Design B 27 19 Design B Discs ,. . 31 20 Design B Disc Rupture Pressure/Open Area Correlation . 34 21 Design C Discs 35 22 Design'G Discs 39 23 Design B Flanged Unit 42 24 Phase II Passive Disc Performance - 50 psi (34.5 N/cm2) 44 25 Phase II Open Area as a Function of Rupture Pressure 47 26 Phase II Passive Disc Performance - 100 psi (68.9 N/cm2) .... 48 27 Task IV Passive Disc Performance 52 28 Active Disc Design Evaluation Sheet 56 29 Design H - Active Disc 57 30 Design J - Active Disc . 58 31 Design K - Active Disc 59 32 Design L - Active Disc 60 33 Design M - Active Disc 61 34 Design N - Active Disc 61 35 Design P - Active Disc 61 36 Design Q - Active Disc 62 37 Design R - Active Disc 63 38 Design S - Active Disc 63 39 Design U - Active Disc 64 40 Design T - Active Disc 64 41 2.5-Inch (6.4 cm) Diameter Active Disc-Design U. . „ 67 42 2.5-Inch (6.4 cm) Diameter Active Disc-Design S 68 VI FIGURES (Continued) NO. . TITLE PAGE 43 Test Fixture Schematic 69 44 Active Disc Installation . . 70 45 Design U Active Rupture Disc - Petal Deployment 73 46 Open Area Determination - Design U..... 73 47 Squib Closure Restriction - Test Number 12 78 48 Incomplete Disc Opening - Test.Number 12 .............. 78 49 Unopened Discs - Tests 9 and 10. 79 50 Water Flow Test Fixture 80 51 Water Flow Fixture Schematic ... ..... 81 52 Unopened Aluminum Disc.- Fluorine Test 85 53 Design G Passive Disc (Sectioned) 90 54 Design C Passive Disc (Sectioned) . 90 55 Design B Passive Disc (Sectioned) 91 56 Effect of Disc Perimeter Wrinkling on Rupture Pressure 95 57 Effect of Disc Eccentricity on Rupture Pressure. 96 58 Nickel Disc Opening in Liquid Fluorine 104 VII TABLES NO. TITLE PAGE 1 Cryogenic Tests, Phase I . .' 16 2 Instrumentation - Passive Disc Tests . . . . . . . . ... . .'./.' .. 22 3 Phase I Design G Passive Disc Data Summary . ... . . .... . 28 4 Phase I Design C'Passive Disc Data Summary .'..'. . . . . . . . 29 5 Phase I Design B Passive Disc Data Summary ........... 30 6 Cryogenic Tests, Phase II Passive Disc (Design B Only) ..... 41, 7 Phase II Passive Disc Data Summary - GN Discs ......... 45 8; Phase II Passive Disc Data Summary - GH- Discs ......... 49 9 Fluorine Tests, Task IV. . . 51 10 Task IV Passive Disc Data Summary - GF Discs. .......... 52 ll\ Tensile Test Results .............. ...... . . ' 54 12 Task II - Phase I Test Profile 66 13 Instrumentation - Active Disc Tests '.. . 70 14 Task II - Phase I Data Summary 72 15 Task II - Phase II Test Profile.' 75 16 Task II - Phase II Data Summa'ry. ................ ! 77 17 Instrumentation - Water Flow Tests 81 18 Task III - Data Summary ". 83 19 Task IV - Fluorine Compatibility Test Program 84 20 Average Rupture Pressure of Phase I Discs 88 21 Open Area of Phase I Discs 89 22 Reverse Buckling Disc-Set Point Shift 92 23 Phase II Passive Disc Rupture Pressure Data Summary 93 24 Disc Performance in Gaseous Fluorine 97 25 Room Temperature Performance - Task II, Phase II Discs 98 26 Effect of Temperature on Rupture Pressure .98 27 Task II Phase I Active Disc Cryogenic Performance 100 28 Task II Phase I Design U Water Flow Performance 100 29 Task II Phase II Active Disc Cryogenic Performance 101 30 Task II Phase II Design U Water Flow Performance 102 Vlll ABSTRACT Rupture disc designs of both the active (command actuated) and passive (pres- sure ruptured) types were evaluated for performance characteristics at cryogenic temperatures and for capability to operate in gaseous and liquid nitrogen, hy- drogen and fluorine. The test results, coupled with information from literature and industry searches, were used to establish a statement of design criteria and recommended practices for application of rupture discs to cryogenic rocket propellant feed and vent systems. IX INVESTIGATION OF CRYOGENIC RUPTURE DISC DESIGN JAMES B. KEOUGH AND ALAN H. OLDLAND MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION SUMMARY This is the final report of a 22-month program that was conducted under Con- tract NAS3-14345. The objective of the program was to investigate a number of rupture disc designs applicable to propellant flow lines and tank safety vents for cryogenic systems in general, and for hydrogen-fluorine and FLOX- methane rocket systems in particular. Two active disc designs and three passive disc designs were procured and tested to determine their performance at cryogenic conditions. The results of this program have been summarized in the form of design criteria and recommended practices. The program consisted of five basic tasks, namely: Task I - Study of Design Concepts Task II - Cryogenic Static Testing Phase I - Screening Tests Phase II - Cryogenic Static Tests Task III - Water Flow Testing Task IV - Fluorine and FLOX Compatibility Task V - Reports and Design Criteria During Task I, a literature search, patent search and industry survey were made to acquire information on all available design concepts. Requests for proposals were then sent out to all known rupture disc manufacturers and to all interested valve manufacturers. Proposals were then evaluated to select two active (com- mand-actuated) disc designs and three passive (pressure-ruptured) disc designs for test evaluation. 2 In Task II, passive discs having ratings of 50 psi (34.5 N/cm ) and 100 psi (68.9 N/cm^) were subjected to rupture tests on gaseous nitrogen at -285°F (97 K) and gaseous hydrogen at -395°F (36 K) respectively. Active discs were subjected to actuation tests in liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen. The Phase I rupture tests served to assess the relative merits of the three passive de- signs from the standpoints of predictability and repeatability of rupture pres- sure and debris generation. Active disc designs were evaluated for reliability of operation and repeatability of disc open area. Phase II consisted of more extensive cryogenic tests on one preferred passive design and one preferred active design. In Task III, the active rupture discs were tested for flow capacity, using water as the test medium, in order to assess the repeatability of pressure drop characteristics in the post-actuation condition. In Task IV, the preferred passive and active disc designs were tested at cryogenic temperatures in gaseous and liquid fluorine respectively, in order to determine whether a catastrophic reaction would occur, when the device opens. Task V consisted of preparing a statement of design criteria and recommended practices, utilizing available information and the new findings resulting from this program. The salient results of this program were as follows: 1. One currently-available passive rupture disc design was identified which is suitable for cryogenic service, and has a minimum sensitivity to temp- erature. Due to a planned testing program at NASA-Lewis Research Center on that design (Design A), it was not tested in this program. 2. Previously unavailable data on the cryogenic performance of passive rupture disc designs having reduced sensitivity to temperature was obtained. 3. Two cryogenic active rupture disc concepts were conceived and developed to the prototype hardware stage, and one of the concepts was tested ex- tensively in liquid nitrogen, liquid hydrogen and liquid fluorine. 4. A current assessment of the state of the art in passive and active rupture discs was made. 5. The feasibility of operating both passive and active rupture discs in a fluorine system has been demonstrated.