Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) Leak Plume Field Detection . - NASA
Robotic External Leak Locator(RELL) leak plume fielddetection on the InternationalSpace Station (ISS)August 20, 2018Alexandra M. Deala, Katie L. Foxa, Alvin Y. Huanga,Michael J. Heisera, William A. Hartmana, RonaldR. Mikatariana, Matthew J. DavisaAdam Naidsb, Timothy A. Bondb, Brien JohnsonbDino J. RossetticaTheBoeing CompanyJohnson Space CentercConceptual Analytics, NASA Goddard Space Flight CenterbNASAPublically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Background The United States External Active Thermal Control System (EATCS) onthe International Space Station (ISS) uses liquid ammonia in closedloops to collect, transport, and reject heat. Detection and location of small ammonia leaks (estimated to be 50 lbmper day) from the EATCS was identified as a risk by the ISS program andthe Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) was commissioned todemonstrate the capability to locate these small leaks.Boeing Space Environments Team22Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Robotic External Leak Locator Collaboration between NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center andJohnson Space Center Maneuvered with Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS)and Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) robotic arms PKR 251 Ion Gauge: Combination total pressure gauge Pirani gauge Cold cathode system Residual Gas Analyzer – 100 Quadrupole gas analyzer that measures for a massrange from 1 to 100 ion mass-to-charge ratios Heated filament bombards incoming gas withelectron creating positive ions. The ions are directed toward the quadrupole filterwhere they are separated by their mass-to-charge ratio. A Faraday Cup detector measures current directlyand for increased sensitivity, an electronmultiplier measures the electron currentproportional to ion current.Boeing Space Environments Team33Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
RELL Measurement of Water andAmmonia Use ion mass ratios of 16 to 17, in additional to total pressure, todistinguish between water and ammonia Water: 0.04 Ammonia: 0.80Boeing Space Environments Team44Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
RELL Scanning of RBVMs Six Radiator Beam Valve Modules (RBVMs) on each side of the ISS Two per radiator panel EtcBoeing Space Environments Team45Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
RBVM Scans – Partial PressureBoeing Space Environments Team46Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
RBVM Scans – Total PressureBoeing Space Environments Team47Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Rescan of RBVM 1 An additional day of scanning was planned for the end of the onorbit demonstration in December 2016 after reviewing the initialscanning dataBoeing Space Environments Team48Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Rescan of RBVM 1 An additional day of scanning was planned for the end of the onorbit demonstration in December 2016 after reviewing the initialscanning data Pass over RBVM flex hoses and quick disconnects (QDs)Boeing Space Environments Team49Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection RELL approved for external operations in February 2017 afterobserved EATCS leak rate increased.Zenith (-Z) faceAft-Starboard (-X / Y) faceAft-Port (-X / -Y) face“Back” faceBoeing Space Environments Team410Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection:Zenith (-Z) FaceZenith (-Z) faceBoeing Space Environments Team411Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection:Aft-Starboard (-X / Y) FaceAft-Starboard (-X / Y) faceBoeing Space Environments Team412Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection:Aft-Starboard (-X / Y) FaceAft-Starboard (-X / Y) faceExpanded ScanBoeing Space Environments Team413Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection:Aft-Port (-X / -Y) FaceAft-Port (-X / -Y) faceBoeing Space Environments Team414Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection:Aft-Port (-X / -Y) FaceBoeing Space Environments Team415Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Focused RBVM 1 Inspection:“Back Side”“Back side”Boeing Space Environments Team416Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Conclusions RELL was successful in detecting and locating an ammonia leakduring the on-orbit demonstration and additional inspection inFebruary 2017. Potential leak site inspected by a crew member during an EVA inMarch 2017 and HD video showed small flakes originating from thecoolant lines. Coolant lines isolated in April 2017 and subsequent monitoring ofsystem pressures showed the leak had stopped. Radiator-side coolant line retrieved by EVA in March 2018 forinspection on the ground. Grid scanning technique is effective and repeatable for locatingleaks. Total pressure measurements using the ion gauge are useful inbuilding contour maps of pressure. Need to be combined with RGA partial pressure measurement data todetermine what is causing the differences in total pressure.Boeing Space Environments Team1317Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Acknowledgements Contributions during the design and verification stages of theRobotic External Leak Locator: Jesse A. Buffington David Autrey Carlos E. Soares Matthew J. Roode Steven B. Morris Michael S. Woronowicz Stanford Research Systems for their support during on-orbitoperations in November – December 2016 and February 2017: Matt Kowit Dave DohenyBoeing Space Environments Team1418Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Contact Information Alexandra Deal, alexandra.m.deal@gmail.com Katie Fox, katie.l.fox@boeing.com Questions?Boeing Space Environments Team1419Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Back UpBoeing Space Environments Team1420Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Background Scanning A: Ram ( X)Atomic Oxygen ‘bump’due to ISS negativefloating potential; Not arealistic feature of thebackground environment Sum of RELLRGA partialpressuresincludesAMU 3 to 50Boeing Space Environments Team421Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Background Scanning A: Ram ( X)Atomic Oxygen ‘bump’due to ISS negativefloating potential; Not arealistic feature of thebackground environmentBoeing Space Environments Team422Publically available – NASA EDAA NF1676 TN59109
Potential leak site inspected by a crew member during an EVA in March 2017 and HD video showed small flakes originating from the coolant lines. Coolant lines isolated in April 2017 and subsequent monitoring of system pressures showed the leak had stopped. Radiator-side coolant line retrieved by EVA in March 2018 for inspection on the ground.
The Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) was developed and deployed to the ISS to provide this capability. An on-orbit validation and demonstration was successfully completed in December 2016 and leak locating operations occurred in February 2017. This paper discusses the results of these exercises including measurements of
The Robotic External Leak Locator (RELL) was developed and deployed to the ISS to provide this capability. An on-orbit validation and demonstration was successfully completed in December 2016 and leak locating operations occurred in February 2017. This paper discusses the results of these exercises including measurements of
constant leak sound value of a leak and the total current sound value. In addition, the results of each measurement can be automatically stored for a comparison of leak sound levels along a series of sequential listening points (see Section 3.8 on Memory Mode, pp 18 - 19). The HL 5000 is the first leak locator that when in leak
the tank itself, API standards prescribe provisions for leak prevention, leak detection, and leak containment. It is useful to distinguish between leak prevention, leak detection and leak containment to better understand the changes that have occurred in tank standards over the years. In simple terms, leak prevention is any process that is designed to deter a leak from occurring in the first .
LIST OF FIGURES . Number Page . 1.1 Subsea Development USA Gulf of Mexico 5 1.2(a) Liquid Only Leak 6 1.2(b) Gas Only Leak 6 2.1 Categorization of Leak Detection Technology Used 10 in this Study 2.1.1 Leak Detection by Acoustic Emission Method 12 2.1.2 Leak Detection by Sensor Tubes 14 2.1.3 Leak Detection by Fiber Optical Sensing 17 2.1.4 Leak Detection by Soil Monitoring 19
the locator in the other hand). Keep the locator away from your shoes, since they might contain magnetic material. To obtain maximum area coverage, the locator should be swept from side-to-side. When the locator comes within range of an object, you will hear an increase in the frequency of the output signal. Figure 3. Searching with the locator
8 Leak Detection Techniques Using Vacuum Leak Detectors 8 9 Industrial Leak Test 9. 3 Fundamentals of Leak Detection . by a special apparatus and fed to the leak detector. This procedure can be carried out using either helium, refrigerants, SF6 as the test gas. . Leak test using vacuum gauges which are sensitive to the type of gas. 6
Abrasive water jet can do this with quality results but, generally is too expensive compared to plasma, laser or punching. 5. Cut Geometry Abrasive waterjet cuts have straight edges with a slight amount of taper. Kerf width is controlled by the orifice/nozzle combination. Cuts in thicker materials generally require larger combinations with more abrasive usage. The kerf width can be as small as .
