Capstone Project

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Group 2019-12 Status completed
Title Controllable firing system for a blow-down rocket engine testing facility
Supervisor Dr. M.R Soleymani (ECE) and Dr. Kiyanda (MIAE)
Description or RDE) for a possible launch in the summer 2020 time frame. Part of this testing involves a facility that consists of compressed gas bottles with fuel and oxidizer that are discharged through the engine. For safety, these tests are performed in a sealed apparatus (a 6 cubic meter metal tank) which therefore pressurizes as the engine runs. A timing circuit controls the order and timing of operations. Currently, this timing circuit is based off of arduino unos with SSRs controlling solenoid actuated valves. This timing circuit has an input from a pressure transducer that monitors the test chamber pressure and stops fuel and oxider flows if the conditions are deemed dangerous. The timing circuit also outputs a triggering signal for other equipment. This timing circuit is operated by a wired remote control so the operator is out of the laboratory when a test is performed. Currently, settings can be changed, but that requires someone to change code on a computer and re-upload the code to the arduinos. This makes it cumbersome and impossible for someone to know what the settings are simply by inspecting the device. We therefore need a control circuit that: 1) controls two solenoid actuated valves (120V) to run the experiment; 2) monitors the pressure of test equipment to abort the experiment when the conditions become dangerous; 3) outputs 5V digital signal(s) to control other equipment in the laboratory; 4) is user-controllable through manual inputs on the device directly (i.e. no code needs to be uploaded to change the device operation); 5) is controlled through a wired remote; 6) has displays that confirm all the current settings of the device; 7) is calibrated, i.e. that all delays and triggers have been measured and characterized.
Student Requirement
Tools
Number of Students 3
Students Leiandros Kaklamanos Nick Zombolas Tooba Baig
Comments: Notes: 1) In the course of this project, all hardware and software will be released under an open license as free and open hardware and free and open source software. 2) This capstone project fits within a larger effort to improve a test facility for rocket engine testing. Regular, weekly meetings will occur with other capstone teams as part of this larger effort. Client: Dr. Charles Basenga Kiyanda (MIAE) Email: kiyanda@encs.concordia.ca Room: EV4.233 Tel: 848-2424 ext. 4648
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