Missile Helium Gas Servicing Unit

The Missile Helium Gas Servicing Unit is a specialized piece of ground support equipment designed to provide high-purity helium gas for the maintenance, testing, and operational readiness of missile systems. Manufactured by Hydraulics International, Inc. (HII), this unit ensures the precise delivery of helium gas at controlled pressures and flow rates, which is essential for various missile applications, including pressurization, purging, and cooling processes.​

Technical Details:

1. Helium Gas Purity:

   • The unit delivers helium gas with a purity level of 99.995% or higher, meeting the stringent requirements necessary for sensitive missile components and systems.​

2. Pressure and Flow Specifications:

   • Pressure Output: Capable of providing adjustable pressure settings, typically ranging from 0 to 5,000 pounds per square inch gauge (psig), to accommodate various missile system requirements.​

   • Flow Rate: Designed to deliver helium at flow rates up to 30 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM), ensuring efficient servicing operations.​

3. Design and Configuration:

   • Self-Contained Unit: The system is designed as a self-contained, enclosed, and skid-mounted unit, facilitating easy integration into existing facilities and mobility for field operations.​

   • Power Options: Available in both electric-driven and diesel engine-driven configurations, offering flexibility based on infrastructure and operational preferences.​

4. Operational Features:

   • Automated Control: Equipped with a programmable logic controller (PLC) that automates helium gas generation and filling processes, minimizing the need for manual intervention and reducing the risk of human error.​

   • Purity Monitoring: Features an on-board helium purity analyzer that continuously monitors and verifies gas purity levels, ensuring consistent compliance with specified standards.​

   • User Interface: Incorporates a human-machine interface (HMI) touch screen, providing real-time operational data, maintenance diagnostics, fault logs, and troubleshooting aids, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.​

5. Compressor and Booster System:

   • Oil-Free Design: Utilizes 100% oil-less feed and high-pressure compressors, eliminating the need for oil separators and reducing the risk of contamination, thereby extending the lifespan of missile components.​

   • Pressure Boosting: Includes integrated pressure boosters to achieve the desired high-pressure helium output, ensuring efficient servicing of high-pressure missile systems.​

6. Safety and Maintenance:

   • Diagnostic Features: The system provides full operation and maintenance diagnostics via the HMI, facilitating proactive maintenance and reducing potential downtime.​

   • Environmental Considerations: Designed with an oil-free compressor system, the unit minimizes environmental impact and reduces maintenance requirements associated with oil management.​

Applications:

• Missile System Pressurization: Supplies high-pressure helium for pressurizing missile fuel tanks and pneumatic systems, ensuring proper operation during launch sequences.​

• Purging Operations: Provides helium gas for purging missile propulsion systems and components, removing contaminants and ensuring a controlled environment within critical systems.​

• Cooling Processes: Utilized in cooling applications where helium's thermal properties are advantageous, maintaining optimal temperatures for sensitive missile electronics and guidance systems.​

• Leak Detection: Assists in leak detection procedures by introducing helium into missile systems and using helium detectors to identify and locate leaks, ensuring system integrity and safety.​

Technical Specifications Table:

Implementing the Missile Helium Gas Servicing Unit within missile maintenance and operational frameworks ensures a consistent and reliable supply of high-purity helium gas, thereby enhancing efficiency, safety, and compliance across various missile system applications.