Wyle is the one-stop shop for all your environmental qualification testing needs including seismic, LOCA and HELB testing. Wyle's seismic and EQ test services include:
- Thermal and radiation aging
- Seismic testing
- Accident (LOCA) testing
- Functional monitoring
- Test procedure preparation
- Modal analysis and testing
- Fixture design and fabrication
Wyle operates seven separate seismic machines, plus numerous accident and aging chambers, so you are assured quick response.
Typical Machine Limits for the Wyle seismic tables systems are shown in the table and graph below.
| |
Force
Rating |
Table Size |
Max Specimen Size |
Max Specimen Weight |
Max Displacement |
Max Velocity |
Max Acceleration |
Max Frequency |
| Triaxial seismic simulator |
36,000 lbs |
9’ X 9’ |
8’ X 10’ |
14,000 lbs |
10" Double Amplitude |
40 IPS |
4.5 g
|
100 Hz |
| Long Stroke seismic simulator |
4,500 lbs |
2’ X 2’ |
2’ X 2’ X 2’ |
200 lbs
|
24" Double Amplitude |
80 IPS |
15 g |
100 Hz |
| Biaxial high force seismic simulator |
160,000 lbs |
20’ X 18’ |
20’ X 20’
|
60,000 lbs
|
6" Double Amplitude |
35 IPS |
4.5 g transient
|
100 Hz |
Wyle also has more than 30 different Aging Ovens available for environmental qualification programs. Thermocouples and electronic temperature controllers are used to maintain the specified thermal aging temperature. Temperatures are recorded continuously on a circular chart recorder. Temperatures are maintained within +5/-0°F of the specified thermal aging temperature. Redundant controllers are used to prevent overheating of the test samples in the event of a malfunction of the main controller. Thermal aging chambers are checked approximately every two hours, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to verify that the chambers are operating properly. The following table provides a sample listing of the capabilities of these units.
| |
Chamber Type |
Chamber Size |
Range |
| 5 |
Temp/Humidity |
7’ X 7’ X 7’ |
-100º F to 350º F |
| 12 |
High Temperature |
21" X 24" X 47" |
Ambient to 600º F |
| 24 |
High Temperature |
24" X 22" X 24" |
Ambient to 500º F |
| 33 |
High Temperature |
10’ X 8’ X 8’ |
Ambient to 450º F |
| 44 |
ESS Vibration |
55" X 54" X 34" |
-100º F to 350º F |
| 49 |
Temp/Humidity Solar, Ice, Snow |
28’ X 18’ X 18’ |
-100º F to 200º F |
| 51B |
High/Low Temperature |
25’5" X 12’9" X 10’6" |
-100º F to 200º F |
In addition to the aging ovens, Wyle-Huntsville has a LOCA Test Facility that has five permanent LOCA test chambers. These test chambers are provided with saturated and superheated steam, compressed air, and water or chemical spray. Test samples installed in the LOCA test chambers can be provided with various electrical and mechanical inputs. Test chamber and test sample operability parameters are recorded on a state-of-the-art digital data acquisition system.
The boiler is capable of providing saturated steam at up to 20,000 lbs. per hour at 150 psig. Superheated steam is provided by two super-heaters which have a lower volume, continuous-duty, 1000°F capability.
The chemical spray system consists of a 140-gallon tank with a pumping system equipped with control valves and a flowmeter. The chemical spray is injected into the test chambers through one or more full-cone spray nozzles. Level controllers installed on the test chambers connected to dump valves periodically empty the accumulated spray solution from the bottom of the test chamber.
WYLE-HUNTSVILLE LOCA TEST CHAMBERS
|
Wyle Chamber Designation |
Approximate Dimensions |
Maximum Temperature |
Maximum Pressure |
Normal Chamber Usage |
|
A |
5' Diameter
X
6' Long |
500°F |
150 psig |
General Purpose - Cables on Mandrels or in a 6' long Cable Tray/Small Electrical Enclosures/Actuators/
Electrical and Mechanical Devices/Motors |
|
B |
3' Diameter
X
3' High |
500°F |
150 psig |
Small Electrical Enclosures/
Small Electrical and Mechanical Devices |
|
E |
2.5' Diameter
X
10' Long |
500°F |
150 psig |
Cables in a 10' long Cable Tray
(Note: This test chamber was designed for this purpose with chamber penetrations on both ends.) |
|
F |
4' Diameter
X
4' High |
500°F |
100 psig |
General Purpose - Cables on Mandrels/
Small Electrical Enclosures/
Electrical and Mechanical Devices
|
|
G |
8' Diameter
X
12' High |
500°F |
70 psig |
Large Electrical Enclosures such as Motor Control Centers/Large Actuators/
Large Valves/Motors |
Notes: 1. LOCA Test Chambers C and D, which have been omitted from the list, are test chambers that are occasionally set up for specialized tests.
Thermocouples and pressure transducers are used to monitor test chamber temperature and pressure. A Wyle-designed and built control panel, a test chamber inlet temperature control valve, and a test chamber outlet pressure control valve are used to control the test chamber temperature and pressure when superheated conditions are required. Thermocouples and electronic temperature controllers are used to control the test chamber temperature and pressure when saturated conditions are required. Air can be added to the test chamber if necessary to increase the pressure above the saturation pressure. The initial ramp typically requires from 10 to 20 seconds. Steady-state temperatures are typically maintained within +6/-0°F of the specified temperature, and steady-state pressures are typically maintained within +10/-0% of the specified pressure. A Wyle technician is present at all times when the test chamber is at superheated conditions. Redundant controllers are used when the test chamber is at saturated conditions to prevent overheating of the test samples in the event of a malfunction of the main controller. LOCA tests are checked approximately every two hours, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to verify that the chambers are operating properly.
Chemical spray can be injected into any of the LOCA test chambers at up to 1.0 gpm per ft of projected test specimen area. The chemical spray can include the following:
- Boric Acid (H3BO3)
- Sodium Thiosulfate (Na2S2O3)
- Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
- Water
The spray flow rate is measured with an electronic flowmeter. The flow rate per square foot of projected area is calculated by dividing this value by the projected area. Chemical spray pH is manually measured periodically during the chemical spray period. The spray flow rate is controlled with manual control valves in the spray pumping system. A Wyle technician is present at all times when chemical spray is being injected into the test chamber to ensure that the proper flow rate is maintained.