Performance tests of a fast-acting valve for the driver tubes of a large blast/thermal simulator. Final report, Jan 91-Jan 92

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:7206630

Stacey, M R

This document describes the testing of a fast-acting throat valve element designed by Eaton Consolidated Controls for use in driver tubes, (blast generators) of a Large Blast/Thermal Simulator (LB/TS). An LB/TS is used to simulate decaying blast waves such as are generated by nuclear explosions. The Eaton Throat Valve Element (ETVE) was tested at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) to evaluate its performance against the design criteria. The ETVE was mounted at the end of a driver tube and actuated 16 times at 6 different driver pressures ranging from 396 kPa to 12.4 MPa (57.5 psi to 1,800 psi). The valve seals survived successfully all 16 tests with the driver gas at room temperature and maintained an acceptable leak rate throughout the test program. The average valve lag time was determined to vary from 36 to 120 ms; however, the valve was found to chatter, going through several (up to 20) opening/closing cycles after actuation before settling in the open position. An increase in the pneumatic supply pressure driving the valve showed a minor decrease in the number of chattering cycles. When the valve was actuated with no pressure in the driver tube, no chattering was observed. At the conclusion of the test sequence, the valve seals were inspected and were in good condition. The shock waves appeared to agree with code predictions when the chattering effects were disregarded.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7206630
• Report Number(s): AD-A-250035/3/XAB; EGG-ME--10066; CNN: DE-AC07-761D01570
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
ANALOG SYSTEMS
BLAST EFFECTS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DYNAMICS
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIONS
FLOW REGULATORS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
HIGH PRESSURE
MECHANICS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
OPENINGS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
RELIEF VALVES
SHOCK TUBES
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
SIMULATORS
TESTING
TIME DELAY
VALVES