Related Projects: LOX Feed, LOX Run Valve, LOX Fill/Drain Valve
Role: Responsible Engineer, Scope Owner
Duration: February – May 2025
Requirements: Develop a gaseous oxygen vent valve to enable liquid oxygen fill and conditioning. Minimize overall impact to the system as this was a last minute addition.
Summary: Initially, the vent valve was intended to be a sponsored commercial component. However, after several months of discussions it became clear we wouldn’t receive the components. Although this was a blow to the team, I created a design that minimized overall system impact by using the same spring-loaded seals as the LOX Fill/Drain Valve (long lead).
The vent valve was actuated from the same string as the dome loaded regulator pilot line. Initially the regulator pressurized the ullage too quickly and the valve wasn’t able to seat, leading to gross leakage. As a fix, I added a small orifice to the dome loaded regulator pilot line. This sufficiently increased the pressurization time, allowing the valve to seal before the ullage was fully pressurized. It then supported several cold flows, a static fire, and launch.
