Project Description

The project description according to our client is as follows:

Design, engineer, test, and partially install three, 300m length runs, of N2 tubing, connections, and manifold systems for the arms of the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer.  The gaseous nitrogen is supplied from a liquid nitrogen Dewar at 300 psi. We require 60 psi intermittently at each manifold of the runs for up to 2 minutes flow time and also a continuous flow of 10 ft^3 per hour at 10 psi. We require a manifold with 5 ports at 11 stations and three pump stations along each of the 300m arms and a shut-off valve just prior to each manifold. System temperature range -20F and +120F, outdoor environment (UV, ozone, snow, ice, etc.). We are concerned with holes forming in the tubing due to vibration within cable tray and heat/cold cycle thermal expansion on long runs, and corrosion potential.  We require fluid dynamic analyses and experimental/test design for temperature range that evaluates the connections joints, and provide life cycle and cost comparisons between various alternative designs.