Semi-Automatic Rocket Propellant Mixing Bowl Cleaning Design

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Date
2020-12-09
Authors
Neustaedter, Cody I.
Saini, Arvinder S.
Shaikh, Muhammad N.
Wan, Zijing
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This report contains a semi-automated cleaning system for Magellan Aerospace’s propellant mixing bowl. The final design eliminates the need for an operator to climb into the bowl to clean it, increasing the safety of the cleaning process. The final design consists of 4 major design components including, the Teflon coating, the mechanical scraping blade design, the pressurized water system, and the machine components required for a transmission shaft. The Teflon coating decreases the total friction forces by a factor of 16. The mechanical scraping system consists of 6 side wall blades placed at 60° angles. The bottom scraping blades consist of 6 blades at 45° angles relative to the side wall blades, that rotate about the center of the bowl to push the propellant waste towards the center funnel, where it is collected in a waste collection system. The scrapers are made of high strength neoprene rubber and are designed to match the corner fillet radius in the bottom of the bowl. Furthermore, the pressurized water system consists of 14 different spray nozzles that spray the side walls of the bowl as well as the bottom surface. The power input for the system is a Char-Lynn S Series-103 Geroler hydraulic motor. The mechanical scrapers, arm blades, and transmission shafts are tested using finite element analysis through SolidWorks software. The max deflection for the rubber scrapers is 0.1 inches (2.54 mm). The factor of safety for the stainless-steel shaft and blades is 3. Lastly, a cost benefit analysis determined the project was under budget by 37% with a total cost of $63 144 CAD. The project also gained numerous benefits through an increase in safety and reduction in total cleaning time. Similarly, a risk analysis was done and is provided for the client to consider the various risks associated with the project. The identified risks with the highest ranking include the risk of wear on the Teflon coating, the risk of cyclic failure, and the risk of inadequate setup by the operators. Mitigation for these risks include proper training for the operators and regular maintenance check ups on cleaning equipment. The report also contains a bill of materials as well as detailed technical drawings for all major components of the design, namely, the pressurized water system, blade designs, and transmission shaft.

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Mechanical Engineering
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