Test Cell 3

Test Cell 3 is Embry-Riddle Prescott’s first permanent liquid rocket engine testing facility.

Background: During 2017-2018, myself and a few others attempted to test a 200 lbf LOX-Ethanol rocket engine designed by a capstone 2016-2017. We attempted to use “Test Cell 1”, which was effectively a concrete pit in the ground.

During 2017-2018, myself and a few others attempted to test a 200 lbf LOX-Ethanol rocket engine designed by a capstone 2016-2017. We attempted to use “Test Cell 1”, which was effectively a concrete pit in the ground.

Extreme difficulties were encountered since we had to to bring everything with us from the Propulsion Lab, set it up, do what little work you could, and then tear it down before the end of the day.

By the end of the project we told the mechanical engineering department that if liquid rocketry were to continue on campus, we needed a permanent, enclosed, testing facility. We decided that the best solution for this would be a conex box. For more on Test Cell 1 and MP-1, see the specific project.

We then decided to make building this test cell our senior capstone project. Additionally we designed, built, and tested the Janus rocket engine, designed for the FAR-MARS competition.

My Role: I was the technical lead for facility development. My design focus was on the feed system, designing the P&ID, sourcing components, designing cavitating venturis, and putting it all together. During the detail semester I was in charge of testing. Additionally I served as project manager and was in charge of our funds. In the end the project spent $80k+.

P&ID: The P&ID (Plumbing and Instrumentation Diagram) was designed to support a cryo-oxidizer, hydro-carbon fuel, and an engine producing up to 3,000 LBF of thrust. Below is the as-built P&ID.

P&ID for Test Cell 3. — Test Cell 3 P&ID

Plumbing: I did the majority of the plumbing that can be seen in the top photo, as well as doing the external press/vent panel shown below. This panel allowed for safe external manual operation of safety critical features, like pressurant supply and tank venting.

Quickly Labelled Pressurization and Vent Panel

Cavitating Venturis: The flow control device chosen for Test Cell 3 was cavitating venturis. I chose these since they were mechanically simple (easy to manufacture) way of establishing a constant mass flow rate while also de-coupling the mass flow rate from downstream oscillation in pressure (as long as cavitation is occurring).