Design, Commissioning and Control System of a Hybrid Rocket Test Cell

A rocket-motor test cell, capable of carrying out instrumented firings of hybrid and composite motors of up to 5kN (1100lb) thrust and up to 8 feet in length, has been installed at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. The key features and requirements of the design are described, especially with regard to the hazards considered. Details of the control system design are also discussed. The paper details the safety features, interlocks and operational safety considerations incorporated, then concludes with a discussion of the operational experience gained over more than sixty firings of all types, a review of the modifications made and how the design and implementation might have been improved in light of this experience.