Aggreko Cooling Strategies Used in Ares Five-Segment Solid
Rocket Motor Test
Engineered Solution Provides Unique Low Temperature Application
for ATK and NASA
Houston (August 31,
2010) – Aggreko, the global
leader in
rental power,
cooling,
heating and
oil-free compressed air, today announced it is working with
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to test Development Motor-2 (DM-2),
NASA’s second fully-developed Ares five-segment solid rocket motor.
Aggreko’s low temperature chillers were used to execute the DM-2
“cold motor” test – supporting ATK’s objective to meet NASA’s
specification to cool the motor to 40°F to measure solid rocket
motor performance at low temperature and verify design requirements
of new materials.
The temperature of DM-2 was controlled by the
atmospheric conditions within the removable building housing the
test motor. To achieve this scope of work in a controlled and
repeatable manner, Aggreko process engineers and temperature
control experts used specialized temporary utility equipment to
cool the structure to target temperatures of 20°F. Aggreko’s
engineered solution for the cold motor test consisted of temporary
generators to power the system of low temperature chillers;
specially designed low temperature air handlers; a customized air
conditioning duct system; and a suite of temperature control and
electrical distribution equipment.
“This project was unique due to its many special requirements,”
said Steven Bukoski, project manager for Aggreko Process Services,
a process engineering group within Aggreko. “Aggreko’s specialized,
large-capacity portable equipment and skilled technicians were
critical factors in successfully achieving freezing temperatures
under challenging environmental conditions, such as hot summer
temperatures, cooling 1.6 million pounds of propellant, and working
with a movable structure.”
Aggreko designed a first-of-its-kind low temperature air handler
configuration to manage climate control for the mobile
building: three stacks of two air handler units with a
custom-made defrost unit. One of the air handlers drew air
from inside the building, cooled it to 20°F, then recycled into the
building while the remaining unit was on standby or defrost mode,
enabling continuous cooling of air. A seventh air handler was
installed to provide fresh air and positively pressurize the mobile
building to eliminate infiltration of warm, moist air.
“Reliable equipment and working closely with ATK on all critical
issues enabled our team to meet NASA’s temperature cooling
requirement and support this important milestone for NASA’s
space flight program,” said Bukoski.
Prior to the live test, Aggreko detached equipment from the
building, and the structure was rolled away. Aggreko
continued to cool the rocket motor section joints with a custom air
conditioning duct system up to an hour before the rocket was
fired.
Editor's Notes
Aggreko plc is the world leader in the supply of temporary power
and temperature control solutions. Aggreko employs over 4,000
people operating from over 133 locations. In 2008 we served
customers in over 100 countries, and had revenues of approximately
£950m (USD $1.6bn or Euros €1.1bn). Aggreko plc is listed on the
London Stock Exchange (AGK.L), is a member of the FTSE-100 index,
and is headquartered in Scotland. For more information, please
visit the company website at www.aggreko.com.
Aggreko provides power and temperature control solutions to
customers who need them either very quickly, or for a short or
indeterminate length of time. Examples would be the supply of power
to an industrial site which needs to service its permanent power
supply, supplying a whole city in times of power shortage, or
providing a major sporting event with power and cooling systems. We
serve our customers either through 120 service centres, which we
call the Local Business, or globally through our International
Power Projects business.
In the Local business, which accounts for about 60% of our
revenues, we hire our equipment to customers, who then operate it
for themselves, although we retain responsibility for servicing and
maintaining it. In the
International Power Projects business, which accounts for about
40% of revenues, we operate as a power producer. We install and
operate power plants and we charge our customers both for providing
the generating capacity, and for the electricity we produce. We
design and manufacture equipment specifically for these
requirements in our factory in Dumbarton, Scotland.
Recent customers include the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
Winter Games and the power utilities in over 50 countries
including the UK, France, Angola, Kenya,
Indonesia, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Chile, Brazil and the USA.
For more information, please visit the company
website at www.aggreko.com/northamerica
or www.aggreko.ca.
For more information, contact:
Shanta Mauney or Claire Caton, Ward
Creative Communications
Tel: 713-869-0707
E-mail: smauney@wardcc.com or
ccaton@wardcc.com
Amy Stine, Communications Specialist, Aggreko LLC
Tel: 281-985-8266
E-mail: amy.stine@aggreko.com
Simon Lyons, Global Director of Marketing & Communication,
Aggreko Plc
Tel: + 44 141 2255900
E-mail: simon.lyonsATaggreko.co.uk