Horizontal Test Stand
Enabling the testing of some of most powerful liquid engines developed by a university, BURPG’s Horizontal Test Stand (HTS) is a mobile static fire stand that allows for rapid testing of BURPG’s flagship engines.
Enabling the testing of some of most powerful liquid engines developed by a university, BURPG’s Horizontal Test Stand (HTS) is a mobile static fire stand that allows for rapid testing of BURPG’s flagship engines.
Spawning from the need to make tests faster and easier to set up and tear down, HTS was born as a design evolution of the now obsolete Vertical Test Stand (VTS). Benefits over VTS include longer term testing capabilities, modular construction ensuring adaptability, more accurate tests due to the static nature of the fluids routing, and faster and simpler assembly (1 hour vs. 4+ hours).
The current fluid systems configuration delivers liquid nitrous oxide oxidizer, liquid isopropyl alcohol fuel, and high pressure nitrogen but can be quickly configured to a variety of other storable liquid propellants. Valves are actuated via servo motors, solenoids, and pneumatics and data collection is captured via thermocouples, pressure transducers, accelerometers, flow meters, and load cells. Main operations during testing are accomplished remotely through the auto-sequence data acquisition and control.
HTS was designed with safety and modularity in mind and enables the team’s tests to run smoother, quicker, and with higher accuracy.
10,000 lbf | 140 lbm |
---|---|
The maximum thrust rating engine that can be tested on HTS | Total weight of HTS without the inclusion of fluids or concrete anchoring |
52"x24"x24" | 1 hour |
The total size of HTS is a manageable package able to be shipped easily | The amount of time to fully set up HTS (down from over 4 hours) |