Cryogenmash's equipment at "Vostochny" cosmodrome

12.04.2019
A group of Russian journalists were familiarized at Vostochny cosmodrome with the launch vehicles liquid oxygen and nitrogen refueling systems produced by "Cryogenmash".

The length of cryogenic pipelines at the cosmodrome is several hundred meters. The cryogenic components that are fed into the first and second stages of the rocket solve a number of tasks. Oxygen is an oxidizer and provides rocket fuel combustion in rocket engines. Nitrogen is needed for several processes, namely, purging of pipelines, tanks, vessels, filling compounds, like a refrigerant for cooling other components (kerosene and liquid oxygen), the rocket tanks pressurization. Liquefied gases are delivered to the cosmodrome in tankers by railway, then they are discharged via a special rack into cryogenic tanks, wherefrom they are supplied to the rocket for filling the carrier via cryogenic pipelines.

In 2014, "Cryogenmash" supplied three 200 m3-capacity oxygen tanks and one 100 m3-capacity nitrogen tank to "Vostochny" cosmodrome. The oxygen and nitrogen filling system provides not only refueling, but also emergency drainage of cryogenic products if necessary. About 700 tons of liquid are stored in three oxygen tanks and 80 tons of nitrogen are stored in a separate tank.

The similar equipment produced by PJSC "Cryogenmash" has been supplied before, for example, to the international Kourou Space Centre in French Guiana.

"Three 200 m3-capacity tanks for liquid oxygen, one hundred cubic meters tank for liquid nitrogen, pipelines, special filling-drain rack, drainage vessels, which provide emergency drainage at the start cancellation and so on - these systems at both sites are similar, and the decision to take as the basis the worked out, reliably proven systems was correct", said Maria Sokolova, General Director of PJSC "Cryogenmash".

"Cryogenmash is also involved in the preparation of systems for the second launch complex, designed to launch the heavy missile "Angara". This time the Moscow Region company is working on a liquid oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen refueling system as well as thermostatting system (temperature control system.

"The launch pad for the Angara is under construction." Compared to "Soyuz", this rocket launching requires much more fuel, including liquid oxygen. PJSC "Cryogenmash" has already started preparations, i.e. new cryogenic tanks are being supplied to "Vostochny". From the city of Balashikha, they are transported by rail through the whole country for 2-3 weeks. The very process of the systems development takes considerable time: a year for development of design documentation and 3-4 months for manufacture of each vessel", explained Maria Sokolova, General Director of PJSC "Cryogenmash".

Oxygen tanks for "Angara" are bigger than their analogue for "Soyuz" - 250 cubic meters instead of 200. These tanks are the maximum size of those that can be transported by rail, not by sea. 

Almost all Russian cosmodromes are equipped with "Cryogenmash" facilities. Also our equipment is available in French Guiana, the Sea Launch, South Korea and India", said Maria Sokolova.

More details can be found in the reports and videos below:

IA REGNUM

VESTI

NTV NEWS

TV ZVEZDA

360 TV Report

360 TV Video





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