The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: Nevada test site geographic location; location of NRDA facilities, area 25; assessment program plan; program goal, scope, and process -- the New Nuclear Rocket Program; nuclear rocket engine test facilities; EMAD Facility; summary of final assessment results; ETS-1 Facility; and facilities cost summary

Hynes, Michael V.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

N93-2696  
Los Alamos Studies of
Nevada Test Site Facilities
for the
resting of Nuclear Rockets
Nuclear Propulsion
Technical Interchange Meeting
October 20-23, 1992
NASA-Lewis Research Center
Plum Brook Station
Michael V. Hynes
Field Test Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos
Recent NASA/DOE studiesforthe Space ExplorationInitiativehave demonstrated a critical
need forthe ground-basedtestingof nuclearrocketengines. Experiencein the ROVER/NERVA
Program. experienceinthe NuclearWeapons TestingProgram. and involvementin the new nuclear
rocketprogram has motivatedour detailedassessmentofthefacilitiesu edforthe ROVER/NERVA
Program and other facilities located at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The ROVERJNERVA facili-
ties are locatedin the Nevada Research & Development Area (NRDA) on JackassFlatsat NTS,
approximately85 milesnorthwestof Las Vegas. To guideour assessmentoffacilitiesforan engine
testingprogram we have defineda program goal,scope,and process.Inparticulaxwe haveassumed
thatthe program goalwillbe tocertifya fullenginesystem designas flightestready.Allnucleas
and non-nuclearcomponents willbe individuallycertifiedas ready forsuch a testat sitesremote
from the NRDA facilities,the components transportedto NRDA, and the engineassembled. We
alsoassume thatenginesof 25,000-100,000Ib thrustlevelswillbe testedwith burn timesof i hour
or longer.Aftera test,the engine willbe disassembled,time criticalinspectionswillbe executed.
and a selectionof components willbe transportedto remote inspectionsites.The majorityof the
components willbe storedforfutureinspectionat JackassFiats.To executethisprogram scope
and processwillrequireten facilities.We consideredthe use of allrelevantfacilitiesat NTS in-
cludingexistingand new tunnelsas wellas the fadlitiesat NRDA. Aside from the facilitieslocated
at remote sitesand the inter-siteransportationsystem, allof the requiredfacilitiesare available
at NRDA. In particularwe have studiedthe refurbishmentof E-MAD, ETS-I. R-MAD. and the
interconnectingrailroad.The totalcostforsuch a refurbishmentwe estimateto be about $253M
which includesadditionalcontractorfeesrelatedtoindirect,constructionmanagement, profit,con-
tingency,and manzgement reserves.This figureMso includesthe costof therequiredNEPA. safety,
and securitydocumentation.
Facilities 752 NP-TIM-92
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19930017777 2020-03-17T05:24:53+00:00Z
Nevada -lest Site Geographic Location
f_ w,_s,_cro . / _ __
/ !
OR£GON
ID4llr)
WI'C)_IN_;
/
/
i, : LoJ 4_,
"_,p L,Ux_k_ • 4R-- i ee
i NEW MFX_O
WESTERN UNrTED STA I"ES ___ _ ....
M v _ss, a-co Los AlmmOl
Location of NRDA Facilities, Area 25
-I] " I
Los Alamos
NP-'IIM-92 753 Facilities
Assessment Program Plan
phase 0: prq!imin_a_les
- Formal charter from Jay Norman, Field Test Division Leader
. Notification of N. Aquiline, NVOO
- Notlllcatton of J. Stewart, NTSO
Phase 1: Testina Proaram Desion
- Define testing program goal, scope, and process
- DelmtninA fnP.ilitie_ rnqillred to exert,tin te,c;lin_ proclram
P h 8._J_ ;2;._Jc__.c. !little s_O_y e_rv. et__N.
- Survey el all relevant facilities at NTS
- Existing and new tunnels
- Vertical bore holes
- ROVER/NERVA taclllties on Jackass Flats
Ptla_e 3: FacUltie_s Assessmen!
. Determination of most cost effective lacilities
- Detailed functional RRRRRSlII_nI
- I)elniie(I Cost n_tilllnlhlg
I_.ha__4_alional ConstdQfatlons
- Inlraslfucture and support lacllllles
- Impact on other users of NTS and Area 25
- NEPA, saloty, and security issues
_ .v_ Jn,_ Los Alamos
Program Goal, Scope, and Process
The New Nuclear Rocket Program
Program Goal:
- Flight Tee/ CerlHy Design of Full Nuclear Rocket Engine Syslem
Program Scope:
- Test fire up to 100,000 LbF Thrust engines for up to , hour
- Testing capability for up to S tall= annually
Program Pfocen:
• Mission profile end flight sylieml lplCIScalion$ determined
• Develop illtllnl lyltlm design
- Develop end certify non-nudlJlr comps/tents el Sllei remote from
Engine Tosl Stlmd
- Develop and ca,lily nuclear compose,de it sites remote Item Engine
Test StarKt
• |fenlport ,'tit compellers Ior lull engirle syslent lest In Engine
AslemblylDis ass ern bly F_Xty
. Assemble engine
• 1"renspoqt en_ne to Engine Test Stsnd F_.-ility
. Conduct all needed teats
- Tranepoct engine to Engine Assembly/Disassembly Facihty
- [_slwlemble engine
- Conduct time crilic81 ir_.pectlon=
• Package and ehlp components to remote inspeclton sites.
• Analyze results and determine lngH'le performance.
- Store engine components lot future mf_rence near Assembly/
Disassembly Facility
Los Alamos
Facilities 754 NP-T[M-92
Nuclear Rocket Engine Test Facilities
Program Goal: Flight Test Certify Full Engine System
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Transportation facilities for components DOT Casks
Non-Nuclear assembly facility -[._
EMAD
.J
Nuclear assembly/disassembly facility
Rocket engine test stand facility
-3 ETS-1
LH2/LN 2 & HP gas storage facility/tank farm -j--
6. Transportation facilities between NTS sites NRDA RR
7. Time-critical inspection facilities EMAD
8. Storage facility for reference components RMAD
9. Storage facility for SNM components EMAD
10. Transportation facilities between remote DOT Casks
inspection sites
Los Alamos
__=
EMAD Facility
Engine Maintenance, Assembly, and Disassembly Building
Oanelml Dee clkeltk_n:
- Built in 19,84 Iol the assembly end pt'eparltto_ of NERVA mlglnet lot, lesllr_,
r_urbishment (N rmdiooclively hot engttles toe mddtttonel testtng, ond allaslembly
|rid detllled post mortem Inlpectlon of letted e_et ind components
• T-PIIn multi-storied stru¢lufl, 280 It by 350 It,
• Dhr_lKI Into 7 itepltrale sectk)ns it¢oofd_ 9 |o IlplK:Nt¢ Itmctk)4_,s lend material Itllrlc flow.
• Cold usembly stem; Hot maintemmre end disassembly area; Post mortem cells; High and low
level calls; Operating Oallerlet; Shop and |ervtoe itree; Otl=ce area
Fan_:l_nml CaDmbllll_@l:
• Cold lind ho( letwltbly end dll.ms_lm_13ly ol mab:g, engine compone=lla and lull size engines
- Assembly line techniques _lpplkld due to heavy work load.
- SplctJll remote opel'sled equipmeflt installed to 4milbSe rilpld dlsallmembly
Cold Assembly /_ra,|:
- Used for r_c:el_ and asslmbh/ ol Inglnes
- Thcee mm_r sectKm| all 43 11 high:
Co;'II recetvklO litres .-. 64 II by 72 It
• Erl,_lll,ll r_:W_'k19 nrr*n /2 II I W _fl II
Cold _gbu=o 8ISO=I=blv s;_l 12 II by 144 It
H_ Maintenance and Disassembly Aria:
- Five me)or sllellons aR equip@eel wi4h rectilinl_r in_l nnlste¢-slmve inmnipulalor|.
ovMhetd criflell. |pecmlly el_e_ded v_lng window|, sir
• Meln hot b_ --- 66 fl by t44it by 77 ft high
S-it ft Ihk:k conclele willis Ior shluldltlg, rertilineor and mllsler stave nmnq)ullto,s,
• Co_e cl_laSS,llmbly n_d elutmmat_on cell --. 46 It by _il It
• Engine d,tos=embly and examln_tliort cell ..- 441 It by 28 It
• C¢ene rnelmonenre betcony
• 14o( and COld Irl_If_ tunnel
- Twelvm mdependenil¥ _hirldpd n_lls wiih shkstd_d d_,or ope_)s In _ cnrnlnnn c_ttl I_vtce Itlea
• I¢llrh r'nll @[lldpll,_ii wllh lll_,_ _nl vll_ll_l wih_l,,_s, rs_41111_',¢sinv#, ,im_ll.$1,111,,r_., Illlnslef Cmlll. llr'i_l
!lpe¢_lllli_ll_l iltst'_clll_w_ e,q*llllmeilt
Los Alamos
NP-TIM-92 755 Facilities
Summary of Final Assessment Results
J-Division Review of Nuclear Rocket Facilities at NTS
NRDA, Jackass Flats, Nevada
• Determined general program goals, scope, and process for full engine system test.
• Surveyed all possible facilities at NTS for application to program requirements.
- Tunnels, existing and new
- Existing ROVER/NERVA facilities
• Determined that existing facilities on Jackass Flats have the most potential for
meeting program requirements In a cost driven assessment.
• Cost estimated upgrade of existing facilities for New Nuclear Rocket Program to be
about $253M.
. Richardson and Means Formalism
- All additional fees included
• Recommend pursuing upgrade of existing facilities out of operating budget with
NEPA and Safety Analysis concurrent,
• Estimated time to completion = 3 years.
• Recommend feasibility study of scrubber design alternatives and optimization in FY93.
- Estimated cost = $350K
• Recommend full conceptual design study in FY93.
- Estimated cost = $1M
. v ._.,,, J.oo Los Alamos
Facilities "]56 NP-TJ[M-92
ETS-1 Facility
Engine Test Stand Number 1
• Qensral DescflDtioq;
• Built in 1066 for the grou.d dnvolopqlent testing ol a downward fifinn NEflVA-type engine in e
flight simulated environment.
• Odgm_ly designed lot the tesl of a 50,000 LbF, I QW engine with a 300 s run time
- Upgrade to 75,000 LbF engine not ccmpieled,
• Physical Descriolion of FTS-1 Comolex:
- Test stand connected to an underground control petal building hy e 1150 It tunnel.
• Cryogevl_¢ dewar arid H_gh Pressure gas vessel te.k from
- Interconnecting process piping
• Engine compartment #edlatton shksld
• 04tlusetlElector exhaust duct
• 2 5 Mgel demlnerallzed deluge and coo_ing weler storage tank.
- Cooling water drainage ditch
•Instrumantstion and Controls, ganarnl utilities and support systems
• The Test Stand cnnsists o|:
- 160 II. 100 Ion aluminum s1_'UChlre supporting e 77.000 gel 50 p_ig LH2 vacuum racketed run tsnk,
fnslrumaniatlon and Controls terminations. OJ'ldan elevetol.
- Below grlKle pipe chime
• Exhaust gas duct vault
• Mechanlcs.l Imd efectllcel equipment room
• 3 It wide by 40 ft high by 100 fl tong concrete shadow shieJd
- Process piping and distribution system
• ]he Control Po_nt 8uildlna F..gJ].lJf_J;of;.
- Underground structure pArtllionod fOr corttioI a_td racordff)g ¢lnhl Io(h_ction
• 2000 chef, lets (:4 dais available
- Above ground equipment room
- HV & AC capability l_ all o( F'_S-I
- I & C cabling steam lines, and AC ducts m shielded lunnel
Los Alamos
Facilities Cost Summary ($M)
Cost Item
Basic Facility
Indirect
Home Office
NEPA Documentation
Salary Analysis
Security Plan
Construction Management
Inspection
Profit
Contingency
Management Resenm
Subtotal
17.574 50. 930
8.435 25.000
8.502 22.500
1.500 1.000
2.000 4.200
0.5OO 0.go0
3.576 9.800
0.000 3.800
3.251 9.800
5.364 51.000
R-MAD l
2.473
1.187
0.915
0.250
0,085
0.ego
0.503
0000
0458
1258
0.503
7.632
Railroad Subtotal
0.624 71.501
0.299 34.921
0.231 30.148
0.250 3,000
0.50o 8.785
0.000 0,500
0.127 14.006
0.000 3.800
0.115 13.624
0.190 57.812
0.127 17.206
2.463 253,403
b* v m_,. JDo
Los Alamos
NP-TlM-92 757 Facilities


Los Alamos studies of the Nevada test site facilities for the testing of nuclear rockets

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server