Client:
Aerojet General Corporation
Sacramento, California USA
Product:
Series 6000 Data Acquisition System
Requirement
Upgrade the signal conditioning and data recording and display systems for seven
rocket motor test stands at the Aerojet test facility near Sacramento, California.
Two test stands are for solid motors and the others are for liquid motors or rocket
motor components. The data systems at this facility were last updated in the
late 1970s, which consisted of Neff hardware and Aerojet developed software. In
the 1970s, Aerojet had a large staff of engineers and software developers, which
is no longer the case. Facilities are now operated by a small staff requiring that
the new systems be completely turnkey.
Solution
Over a three-year period, Pacific supplied Series 6000 signal conditioning and data acquisition systems for the seven test stands. Each
test stand had individual and unique requirements requiring custom hardware configurations. However, PI660 software was used universally
for all stands to keep the operator interface consistent. This required some modifications to PI660 to accommodate all of the calibration
and operating modes used at Aerojet, which was accomplished by Pacific in close cooperation with the facility engineers.
The signal conditioning consisted of several Series 6000 input module types accommodating thermocouples, LVDTs, RTDs, strain gages
and high-bandwidth pressure and load measurements. Data for low-speed channels is recorded to hard drive directly from the 6000
input modules at up to 10 kS/s. For the high-bandwidth channels, the outputs of the 6000 signal conditioners are digitized by
Integrated Circuits & Systems’ 32-channel, PCI-based digitizer cards at 109 KS/s and recorded to hard drive at throughput rates up to
25 MS/s. Low and high speed data files are synchronized and combined after the test into a single data file.
PI660, running on Window’s-based computers, sets up system parameters and displays the acquired low and high-speed data in real
time on the Operator’s Workstation. Data is distributed by Ethernet to multiple Display and Recording Workstations running the Client
version of PI660 and to a “Video Wall” of nine high-resolution monitors used for VIP test viewing.
Each test stand had its own unique requirements that were taken into account during the system design. For example, one stand had
the data system placed near the test article to minimize input cable length that would otherwise attenuate data frequencies of interest.
It required a 1,500 foot optic fiber interface for the IEEE-488 control and data bus that could maintain data throughput rates of 1
MS/s. Some stands that do high-value tests required back-up recording of critical test data. The back-up computer systems digitize and
record the high-level analog outputs that are standard on most Series 6000 signal conditioning modules. By providing UPS power to the
back-up computer, recording of critical data is assured in the event of an interface, computer or power failure.
Special Features
- Wide range of input modules accommodating all transducer and output types.
- High level analog outputs for every channel that enabled backup data recording.
- PI660 Software that supported all test operations without customer modification or development.
- Time correlation (synchronization) of high and low speed channels.
- Inexpensive, Window’s based operator and display workstations that can be upgraded as new capabilities become available
without system or software modification.
Learn More
Get more information about Series 6000 Data Acquisition and Signal Conditioning Systems.
Contact
For additional information about testing rocket engine stands with Pacific Instruments Series 6000 Data Acquisition and Signal Conditioning Systems, please contact us with your application.
Phone: 925-827-9010
Email: salesrequest@pacificinstruments.com
