![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A224.jpg\" "\\"A2\\"")
The HPU components are mounted on the aft skirt between the rock and tilt actuators \u2013 which are part of the Thrust Vector Control system that drives the SRB nozzle to aid the steering of the stack during first stage ascent.<\/p>\nA redesign to the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Thrust Vector Control (TVC) Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fuel pump will be implemented on STS-134 and STS-133 \u2013 currently the final two \u201cscheduled\u201d shuttle flights. The redesign will eliminate the highest \u2013 although extremely unlikely to occur \u2013 \u201ccritical 1\u201d failure scenario, which holds the potential of a LOV\/C (Loss of Vehicle\/Crew) event.<\/p>\n
APU Fuel Pump:<\/p>\n
There are two self-contained, independent HPUs (Hydraulic Power Units) on each SRB. Each HPU consists of an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), Fuel Supply Module (FSM), hydraulic pump, hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic fluid manifold assembly.<\/p>\n
The HPU components are mounted on the aft skirt between the rock and tilt actuators \u2013 which are part of the Thrust Vector Control system that drives the SRB nozzle to aid the steering of the stack during first stage ascent.<\/p>\n
The APUs and their fuel systems are isolated from each other, with each FSM (tank) containing 22 pounds of hydrazine.<\/p>\n
The fuel tank is pressurized with gaseous nitrogen at 400 psi, which provides the force to expel (positive expulsion) the fuel from the tank to the fuel distribution line, maintaining a positive fuel supply to the APU throughout its operation.<\/p>\n
Fuel flows primarily through the startup bypass line until the APU speed is such that the fuel pump outlet pressure is greater than the bypass line \u2013 then all the fuel is supplied via the fuel pump.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A324.jpg\" "\\"A3\\"")
The APU turbine assembly provides mechanical power to the APU gearbox, which drives the APU fuel pump, hydraulic pump and lube oil pump.<\/p>\n
NASA educational resources (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n The turbine exhaust of each APU flows over the exterior of the gas generator, cooling it, and is then directed overboard through an exhaust duct.<\/p>\n Each HPU on an SRB is connected to both servoactuators on that SRB. One HPU serves as the primary hydraulic source for the servoactuator, and the other HPU serves as the secondary hydraulics for the servoactuator. The APU 100-percent speed corresponds to 72,000 rpm, 110-percent to 79,200 rpm, and 112-percent to 80,640 rpm.<\/p>\n In summary, the two TVC systems (rock, tilt) per SRB that control the SRB nozzle employ a hydrazine fueled APU to generate the power required to drive the hydraulic supply pump. The APUs\/HPUs and hydraulic systems are reusable for 20 missions.<\/p>\n Implemented Change:<\/p>\n No safety concern has arisen to cause the change to the APU fuel pump, rather this is another example of continued improvements that are made to the hardware during almost every mission cycle.<\/p>\n \u201cFuel pump redesign eliminates Criticality 1 failure scenario: Loss of drive shaft carbon seal results in metal on metal contact leading to fire or explosion, loss of APU with possible loss of mission under worst case conditions. Represents highest SRB risk per current Shuttle Probability Risk Assessment (PRA),\u201d noted the expansive PRCB presentation, available on L2.<\/p>\n \u201cPositive displacement gear fuel pump delivers fuel to APU. Fuel pump driven by APU gear box. Carbon seal prevents hydrazine leakage from fuel pump drive shaft to overboard drain line. Carbon seal damage manifests as fuel pump leakage.\u201d<\/p>\n To remove the threat, the APU will follow a design route used on the orbiter\u2019s APU fuel pump, sealing the surface between the drive gear and a static carbon seal.<\/p>\n \u201cPhase II fuel pump utilizes sealing surface between drive gear and static carbon seal with stop washer. Prevents contact between rotating metal components. Similar to current Orbiter APU fuel pump design.\u201d<\/p>\n The change to the Phase II fuel pump will be tested on STS-134 via just the Right Hand booster\u2019s tilt system, before being implemented on all four fuel pumps on STS-133 \u2013 currently the final flight of the shuttle.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst flight STS-134\/BI144 in RH tilt system (one pump). STS-133\/BI145 utilizes Phase II fuel pumps in all four locations,\u201d the presentation confirmed, showing how the shuttle contractors are aiming to include improvements all the way to the final flight of the fleet, pending a potential extension of the manifest.<\/p>\n The presentation also listed the large amount of testing \u2013 and Structural Analysis at Hamilton Sundstrand \u2013 that has taken place prior to the change of design\u2019s certification for flight, along with the confirmation of the decrease in risk to the system.<\/p>\n \u201cPhase II fuel pump basis for certification: Test, Analysis and Similarity: All requirements of certification plan addressed through functional and vibration testing, analysis, and tear-down inspections.<\/p>\n \u201cConclusion: Test and analysis show SRB Phase II Fuel Pump safe to fly and reduces overall SRB risk by eliminating one Criticality 1 failure scenario.<\/p>\n \u201cCreated eight new (certification) documents for Phase II fuel pump: New documents needed due to new part number. No new failure modes introduced. Decrease in risk identified.<\/p>\n \u201cEliminated potential failure scenario of fractured carbon seal and metal-to-metal contact in presence of hydrazine causing APU fuel pump rupture (Decrease in risk). Redesigned seal assembly replaced one Criticality 1 leak path with Criticality 1R leak path (Decrease in risk).\u201d<\/p>\n The change in design would have been implemented on the Ares I First Stage \u2013 a single booster \u2013 and the Ares V twin SRBs, prior to both vehicles being cancelled by the FY2011 budget proposal.<\/p>\n L2 members<\/em> <\/em>: Documentation \u2013 from which the above article has quoted snippets \u2013 is available in full in the related L2 sections, now over 4500 gbs in size<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A redesign to the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) Thrust Vector Control (TVC) Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fuel pump will be implemented on STS-134 and STS-133 \u2013 currently the final two \u201cscheduled\u201d shuttle flights. The redesign will eliminate the highest \u2013 although extremely unlikely to occur \u2013 \u201ccritical 1\u201d failure scenario, which holds the potential of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7806,9051,3366],"class_list":["post-40856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-srb","tag-sts-133","tag-sts-134"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40856"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A417.jpg\" "\\"A4\\"")
The change to the fuel pump relates to the small potential that a carbon seal may be lost\/compromised during operation, allowing for two metal surfaces to contact \u2013 which would become an ignition source. This change was proposed and approved by the all-powerful Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/A59.jpg\" "\\"A5\\"")
\u201cFuel pump design comparison: Original fuel pump utilized dynamic sealing surface on floating shaft mating ring. Carbon seal mated with rotating drive shaft,\u201d added the presentation.<\/p>\n