Reactor for extracting oxygen from lunar rock New facility for investigating glass filaments Potassium nitrate priced for fertilizer usage
A beom from an arc i m q e /urnace rrjecitng off lioo mirror xurfa-fs mrlis D rock sample ina small quam crysfal vacum chmnba (uppn right) fo relcase'oxygm, wafer, and oxides
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YON KARMAN RESEARCH CENTER Two major developments are announced-one involves a method for extracting oxygm from lunar minerals, the o t k a new facility for glass-jbcr research Aerojet-General Corporation's research and technology center at Azusa, Calif., was formally dedicated on October 30, 1963, as the Von Karman Center, in honor of the xientist who pioneered thii country's space program. Dr. von Karman, born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1881, received a Ph.D. from Goettingen University, Germany, in 1908 and served as Director of the Aeronautics Institute at Aachen University in Germany fiom 1912 to 1929. Between 1924 and 1928 he was consultant for both the Junkers Airplane Works and the Zeppelin Co. Dr. von Karman came to the United States as a research associate at the California Institute of Technology,
and became director of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratories at Caltechin 1930. The center is an outgrowth of small rocket test facilities originally established at Azusa in 1942 as the Aerojet Engineering Corporation under Dr. von Karman. Beginning with the development of solid propellant rockets to assist aircraft for take-offs from short runways, the center has grown into a modern industrial complex occupying 125 acrea of laboratories, engineering facilities, test areas, and manufacturing shops. The center numbers 1600 engineers and 200 advanced degree holders among the more than. 5500 persons in its employ. A high percentage of the administrative
and technical personnel were directly trained by Dr.von Karman. Although started as rocket tes facility, the scope of research an development has broadened to em brace every major scientific an engineering discipline. The center rocket facilities have now bee transferred to Sacramento, Calif., and have been replaced by a scientific-industrial complex encompassing nine major product divisions. These divisions (advanced research, Astrionics, chemical products, life support systems, oceanic products, production projects, REON, SNAP-8, and structural materials) cover scientific and engineering disciplines that extend from hydrodynamics and marine engineering to space vehicles, rocket launchers and recoilless rifles. A good deal of the activities carried on at the center are classified, but two announcements made during the dedication ceremonies reveal the progress and scope of two of the center's divisions. Oxygen from Moon Minerals. A feasibility and component study program designed by the chemical products division for NASA, has shown promising results. The object of the study is a method for extracting oxygen from moon minerals for use as rocket propellants and in life-support systems. Initial work in this program, utilizing unweathered basaltic lava taken from a crater of Mt. Pisgah volcano in the Mojave Desert, indicated that about 1% by volume of water of crystallization could be extracted fiom these samples when they were heated in an arc-image furnace. I t was estimated that treatment of a ton of rock would yield about 50 to 60 pounds of oxygen, derived by
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In the Fall of 1964, Sweden's ' first urea plant wz'11 go on stream in Koping, SZUG:den, for AB SVGw k a Saltpeterve,?ken.
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3. Operation is smooth, uninterrupted, completely automated-using Chemico-developed instrumentation and techniques. Chemico-designed urea plants represent a total installed capacity of 1,400 T/D. Plants now in design or construction stages will add another 800 T / D to the total. A urea plant that we just completed in the United States was started up in one dag-at full capacity.
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Circle No. 502 on Readers' Service Card
I&EC REPORTS electrolysis of the condensed water. Chemical analysis of the rock residue indicated that a further untapped reservoir of oxygen remained which heat alone could not release. Extraction of oxygen from minerals on the moon is to be a continuous cycle performed in three interdependent steps. The version designed at the center for use on the moon is expected to operate in the following manner: A small furnace using a methane rich atmosphere will reduce rock to carbon monoxide and hydrogen; the carbon monoxide and hydrogen pumped to a chemical reactor will be converted to methane and water; the water will be broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen produced will be stored for use in rocket propellants and lifesupport systems, the methane and hydrogen will be recycled. Investigators at the center have successfully completed one of the program’s most important stepsthe design and operation of a chemical reactor for the quantitative conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into methane and water. Designed around a Fischer-Tropsch reactor, the unit consists of a suitable catalyst, carefully controlled temperatures, and a reacotr shell and supports made of stainless steel. The next step in the process would be the construction and operation of a rock reduction furnace to operate at about 3300’ F. The furnace, made of tungsten and lined with high purity alumina, would be thermally insulated with a layer of stabilized zirconia. The reactor and the furnace would be tested separately and integrated into a single system for further experiments expected to yield design criteria for a n actual lunar pilot plant. The ultimate goal is fabrication of a large scale plant to be carried to the moon by a Saturn rocket and to be set up and operated remotely or by astronauts to produce 12,000 pounds of oxygen per month. Powered by a nuclear reactor, the plant could satisfy the 16
rocket propellant oxidizer requirements for post-Apollo return-toearth flights every six months. Once proved in actual lunar operations the system could be scaled up to a full-size plant to supply both oxygen and water for a manned lunar base. Any relative composition of lunar materials could be utilized by this carbo-thermal chemical process which is independent of the presence or absence of water. Water trapped in lunar rocks would be a valuable by-product to be stored for use in life support or for electrolysis to form more oxygen. Slag from the melted rocks could find use as bricks or slabs for light, easy-to-us? building materials. A moon base able to supply its own oxygen would drastically reduce the presently anticipated cost of $4,000 to $5,000 per pound for landing a Saturn rocket payload on the moon. Independent investigators feel that there are sufficient raw materials for such a program based on the various silicates and oxides found on earth in meteorites and tektites. A typical silicate rock should react in the following manner: MgzSiOa f 2CH4+2C0 f 4Hz Si 2 M g 0
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Stronger Glass Fibers. The second announcement described the completion of a new facility for glass-fiber research where scientists of the Structural Materials Division hope to make significant advances in filament winding techniques. The new facility is a furnace room in which monofilament glass fibers can be drawn in an environment completely controlled for temperature, humidity, and content. The section began operation early in 1963 and has run approximately 1,000 tests on over 100 glass mixtures compounded in its laboratories. The laboratory, which initially developed glass fibers with increased strength and rigidity, is now reported to be producing glass fibers with tensile strength several times greater than the best grades of steel
INDUSTRIAL AND E N G I N E E R I N G CHEMISTRY
available. Chief interest in these developments lies in the field of glasswound solid-propellant rocket motor cases for missiles such as the Polaris Fleet Ballistics Missile and the Minuteman ICBM. Increased fiber strength and rigidity are expected to lead to reduced weight and thickness in the rocket case walls. The controlled atmosphere room will be used as a test center to recognize and identify factors which may contribute to the degradation or weakening of the glass fibers after they are drawn into filaments. It has been designed to allow fiber evaluation at various temperatures and humidity levels, and in inert gas atmospheres. The method of evaluation starts with small batches of glass being melted and refined to temperatures of 3200’ F. for 24 hours, then quick cooled into “frit.” The glass, now having the appearance of small rock candy fragments, is remelted and drawn into single filaments of 0.0004 inch diameter. Test components showing promise are melted in pilot plant quantities large enough for fabrication of glass fiber reinforced plastic structures to be used in further strength and L. CRITIDES rigidity testing.
A NEW SOURCE OF POTASSIUM NITRATE
The initial target is the fertilizer market, but ultimately industrial outlets are anticipated Primarily because of cost, potassium nitrate has not been used extensively as a fertilizer, even though it has several advantages over other fertilizers available. This means that a huge potential market has remained largely untapped. Stauffer Chemical has been the only large domestic producer (from potassium chloride and sodium nitrate), and other supplies have been imported from Chile and Germany.
I&EC REPORTS This picture, however, will probably change. After six years of research and development in cooperation with the Colorado School of Mines Research Foundation, the Southwest Potash Division of American Metal Climax, Inc., has placed on stream a n $8-million plant at Vicksburg, Miss., which will bring potassium nitrate within a price range to encourage its use as fertilizer. Although the agricultural market is the company’s main target, it plans ultimately to produce for industrial uses as well, where the major outlets are for ceramic, heattreating salts, and explosives. However, with larger domestic supplies available, good possibilities exist for use in other processes, as a substitute for other nitrates and potassium salts. T h e new technique hinges economically on having only one byproduct which has reasonably high unit value. Southwest uses nitric acid. The by-product is salable liquid chlorine. Corrosion problems and difficulty in selecting materials of construction for the equipment are to be expected, and the new plant proved no exception. After completion in the spring of last year, its on-stream operation was delayed for nearly a year while engineers wrestled with these problems. Potassium nitrate is a n excellent source of nitrogen and potassium for argicultural uses-l3% N and 44% KzO. I n addition, it has a n alkaline effect on soils which makes it suitable for basic or neutral mixtures. Also, it is effective a t high fertilization rates because danger of root damage is reduced, and it is readily taken up by the plant immediately after application. I t is particularly useful for plants such as tobacco and potatoes which are easily damaged by excessive amounts of chlorine and sulfur. However its real value to agronomists-i.e., the extent to which it can increase crop yield per acre us. cost-remains to be seen. E . KELLER
CROSS SECTION
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Rugged Massco-Grigsby Pinch Valves i n sizes 1” t o 14”; manual, motorized, and hydraulic operation; automated systems; normal operating temperature f r o m below freezing to 250°F on special applications; working pressure from moderate vacuum to 150 psi. Unobstructed flow; no metal parts in contact with material handled.
HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION Sleeve consists of abrasion and/or corrosion resistant core material, backing material, multiple layers of interwoven reinforcing fabric and outer wrapper. Recesses molded into sleeve act as “hinges” to perm i t leakproof closure and reduce strain and wear on sleeve.
We keep telling people this pinch valve is really rugged for example the sleeve will not rupture or blowout or leak
has long wearing life handling abrasive and corrosive dry solids liquids Pulps
but they’re not convinced until they MINE AND SMELTER SUPPLY CO.
Dept. IE-1,3800 Race Street, Denver 16, Colorado Gentlemen: ( ) I would like to see a cross-section of the sleeve on your Massco-Grigsby Pinch Valve. ( ) Please send me your Pinch Valve Catalog No. 609-R.
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