Germany-Brunswick: Instrumentation and control equipment

The German Centre for Aerospace (DLR) in Göttingen operates two large-scale installations that test spacecraft propulsion systems. A common feature of the installations is that they can provide a space-like high vacuum for this purpose.
The new facility (STG-ET) was set up in 2010 for electric space propulsion. The STG-ET does not yet have an installation control but is operational in manual operation. It is intended to examine modern electric drives. These are very cumbersome and expensive experimentation campaigns and impose high requirements on the reliability and resilience of the plant control system.
The second plant (STG-CT) is available for small-scale chemical propulsion and became operational in 1992. This installation is operated with a Siemens S5 controller.
Mechanical vacuum pumps and cryogenic pumps are used to achieve the required vacuum. The proximity of both plants makes it possible to share the liquid helium (LHe) and the liquid nitrogen (LN2) necessary to operate the low temperature pumps (4 Kelvin). The operation of the plant will be or will be controlled and monitored by the measuring station.
Currently, the STG-CT plant and the complete LNG supply (LHe and LN2) are jointly controlled and monitored via the existing control system. The expensive helium is in a circular system and is re-liquidated on site. The nitrogen is discharged into the atmosphere after use.
Planned project.
The project aims to divide the controllers into three blocks and to redevelop the sub-controls. The work is divided into the blocks as follows:
1. Unit 1 plant control system STG-ET,
2. Unit 2 plant control system STG-CT,
3. Unit 3 plant control system STG-KM.
1.1. Control ET (Electrical Engines).
The STG-ET requires an SPS control to operate. The control system must be independent of the other blocks and be highly available in order to:
— not destroy the sensitive components (engine, pumps, cryotechnics, etc.),
— not to jeopardise an expensive long-term test (1 year or more) of customers;
— to ensure the safety of human beings and the environment.
This control system must be completely redesigned and installed.
1.2. CT (Chemical Engines):
The existing STG-CT control system is to be replaced by a modern control. The integrated part of the liquefied gas supply is to be abolished. The peripherals, such as sensors, actuators and cabling, will be included in the new control system, provided that it makes sense from a technical and economic point of view. Due to the short and supervised duration of the experimentation, a highly available SPS is not required.
1.3. Control KM (cryogenic media):
The third sub-project is the control of the cryogenic media (KM, called liquefied petroleum gas management). This is decoupled from the old STG-CT control system and receives its own SPS. Even if both vacuum systems are not in operation, this control must continuously monitor evaporating helium and control the helium circuit in continuous operation (24h/365d). This situation, together with STG-ET, together with STG-ET, makes it necessary to interpret this control as also highly available.
In order to participate in the call for tenders, please submit an informal request to participate in the call for tenders (reference number) to the above-mentioned contact point. Please attach to the request to participate the documents required under III.2.2 and III.2.3.

31682210 - Instrumentation and control equipment