GRE won a UKRI / STFC contract to redesign and manufacture 8 multi-channel LN2 valve boxes, to replace failing units already onsite.
The valves boxes were required to split a single liquid nitrogen input into multiple channels, in order to provide cooling for the thermal shroud sets in STC (Space Test Chamber) 2 and 3 at RAL Space on the Harwell Campus, Didcot.
The previous design of door valve box employed foam insulation to stop icing and condensation, but didn’t function correctly (due to boil off gas being generated by excessive heat load) and were unsightly, as they often developed frosting/ice on their outer surfaces.
GRE engineers designed 8, vacuum-insulated ‘mini cryostats’ that incorporated fully welded stainless steel pipework wrapped in MLI (multi-layer super insulation) and actuated cryogenic valves by Stohr Armaturen. Due to space constraints our engineers also designed a ‘compact’ Johnston coupling (bayonet) specifically for the project.
All 8 valve boxes (2 for each of the 2 doors on both test chambers) were manufactured at the GRE factory in Devon, shipped to R100 at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories, then fitted by our own technicians.
