P10229 – Composites
Autoclave
User Manual and Information
Brandon Allen
Matthew Brady
Brian Cario
Matthew DiFrancesco
John Mink
May 2010
Operation Instructions -- Device Limits -- Safety Considerations -- Improvement Recommendations
Table of Contents
Purpose
2
General Overview
3
Operating Limits
4
Pressure Limits
4
Temperature Limits
5
Electrical Limits
5
Pressure Vessel Modifications
5
Operation of the Autoclave
5
Overview of Operation Procedure
5
Maintenance of Door and O-Ring
8
Hooking up a new Nitrogen Bottle
8
Safety Considerations
Hot Surfaces
8
8
Bottled Gases
9
Pressurized Chamber
9
Entrapment Hazard
10
Door Stop
10
Torquing of Bolts
10
Stability Concerns
11
Vapor Concerns
11
Not to be Modified
11
Realizing Full Potential
Parts to be Changed for High-Pressure
Operation
Recommendations for Full Functionality
12
12
Heating Recommendations
12
13
Controls Recommendations
18
Electrical Recommendations
24
Safety Recommendations
26
1
Purpose
This autoclave is provided with the intent of being used for the accelerated curing of composite
materials (such as fiberglass or carbon fiber) under temperature and pressure. Curing composites under
temperature and pressure helps to eliminate voids within the material, leading to a much stronger part
than one made through a simple vacuum bag set up.
While the vessel is intended to be used for curing under high temperatures and pressures, there are
other uses that the vessel is well suited to.
One such use is as a stand-alone oven, since the vessel is designed to withstand up to 400°F
temperatures. In order to safely operate at these temperatures, some parts need to be added and some
other parts need to be exchanged. See the “Realizing Full Potential” section later in this document for
more information.
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Another use for the vessel other than as a composites autoclave is as a simple pressure chamber. In
fact, this is all that the vessel is currently capable of. The vessel was designed to withstand up to 150
psig operational pressures. However, the vessel is currently capable of only operating at up to 15 psig,
but with the exchange of a couple of parts (see the “Realizing Full Potential” section below), the higher
pressures are attainable (certification is also required). For composite resins that do not benefit from
elevated temperatures, this will be the mode in which the autoclave should be operated.
In addition to use as a pressure chamber, the vessel can also be utilized as a vacuum chamber. The
vessel is capable of withstanding the external pressures accompanying internal vacuum conditions, and
is even ready to operate this way immediately. There is a vacuum port hookup on the side of the vessel
which is intended to be used as a pass-through with which to maintain a vacuum inside of the bags the
composite parts are laid up within. By leaving the internal vacuum line unconnected, and switching on
an external vacuum pump, the entire chamber is capable of being evacuated to vacuum conditions. The
same safety precautions that accompany pressurization of the vessel also should be observed for
evacuating the vessel.
Please note, the autoclave is not intended for use as a medical sterilizer, and is not to be used as such.
General Overview
As delivered, the autoclave consists of a tubular tank with a front hinge-mounted door. This door is
fastened shut using (20) 1.25-inch diameter studs and nuts, which require a two-inch hex drive to
operate. The vessel sits on a stand which holds the tank through the use of a pair of red ratchet straps;
these are intended to prevent both rotation and tipping of the vessel during normal use. There are also
numerous pass-through ports mounted to the vessel, two pairs of three near the door, one on the back
end of the vessel, and a smaller one mounted to the center of the door. The rear port is merely sealed
with a cap at this time, but is intended for use with a future heat circulation system (blower motor shaft
pass-through). The port on the door is intended for mounting a pressure gage to.
One of the remaining six ports has a plumbing manifold coming off of it, with an inlet regulator (to be
connected to a nitrogen bottle source), an emergency blow-off valve (currently set to approximately 20
psig), and a venting port. The blow-off valve is not to be removed or defeated in any way. There are
also two ball valves integrated into this manifold, the one between the port and the regulator is the
pressurization valve, used to pressurize the vessel, while the second ball valve is used to vent the
pressure within the vessel. At the outlet of the manifold is a fitting for attaching a 3/4-inch line to a
fume hood. This line should be connected and routed so that it feeds into the fume hood, and the fume
hood should be running throughout the ENTIRE duration of the vessel operation.
3
The remaining ports also merely have caps over them, and are intended for future use as electrical passthroughs for heaters and internal instrumentation, and any other future needs.
Operating Limits
Pressure Limits
As delivered, the autoclave is capable of safely withstanding up to 15 psig pressure. There are
numerous plumbing components on the vessel which are not capable of withstanding much more
pressure than this, and so the emergency blow-off valve built into the vessel is set to trip at 20 psig,
enforcing this limit.
The upper valve is for outlet while the lower is the input.
The autoclave was designed to be able to withstand much higher pressures than the current 15 psig,
however. The vessel itself along with all pass-through ports is capable of safely operating at upwards of
150 psig, but some components will need to be switched out to be able to attain this pressure. These
components are listed in the “Realizing Full Potential” section at the end of this document.
4
Temperature Limits
There are no heaters or insulation built into the autoclave, and so as delivered the autoclave has no
heating capability. Several components built onto the autoclave are also incapable of withstanding
temperatures. However, the autoclave was designed with the intent of adding heat capability later on,
and as such the vessel was designed with the expectation that up to 400°F temperatures could be
realized inside. Achieving these elevated temperatures requires a number of components be replaced
and others added on, all of which are discussed in the “Realizing Full Potential” section. Insulation will
also be needed for any heating method, which is also discussed in the later sections.
Electrical Limits
As supplied, the autoclave has no electrical system and as such there are no limits to be concerned with.
In the future, however, a complete heating and control system is intended to be integrated, and
therefore care will need to be taken to ensure that the electrical circuit is not overdrawn. See the
“Realizing Full Potential” section later in this document.
Pressure Vessel Modifications
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY PART OF THE AUTOCLAVE VESSEL BE MODIFIED. This
includes welding any parts to the vessel or vessel door, any drilling of the vessel or vessel door, and any
other physical modifications to the vessel itself. A hydrostatic test was performed on the finished vessel
to ensure that it could safely withstand elevated pressures, and any modifications to the vessel may
reduce this safe operating pressure. Many pass-through ports were provided to allow for electrical,
pressure, and other connections to the inside of the vessel; these were included in the hydrostatic test.
These ports themselves should not be modified in any way either. The plugs that screw into these ports
are replaceable and can be modified, but care should be taken to use hardware that can withstand the
pressures. Modification of these plugs should also be done in such a way to ensure proper pressurecarrying abilities.
Operation of the Autoclave
Overview of Operation Procedure
There are two ball valves integrated onto the pressure vessel. One controls the flow of the inlet gas,
while the other is used to vent the pressure within the vessel. This second valve is located near the
5
copper line which should be routed into a running fume hood. The first valve is located near the inlet
pressure regulator. These valves should be either fully open or fully closed at all times.
All parts should be placed within vacuum bags before being placed within the autoclave. Small parts can
be placed right onto the internal rack. If desired, these parts should be tied down to the rack and/or the
internal longitudinal rails so as to prevent them from shifting during operation. The vacuum ports on
the vacuum bags should be hooked up to the internal vacuum port pass-through. The outside of this
port should be connected to a vacuum pump, and the vacuum pump should be then switched on. If any
leaks are detected in the vacuum system, these should be corrected before moving on.
The door should now be closed and bolted shut. Every bolt should be inserted and tightened down,
however for low-pressure applications (15 psig), every other bolt is sufficient. For 15 psig pressures, the
torque is not critical, but the bolts should all be wrench-tightened. For higher pressures, see the “Bolt
Torque” section in the “Safety” section below. At this point ensure that the ball valve on the manifold
that vents the pressure is fully closed. Also ensure that the manifold exhaust line is connected and
properly routed into a fume hood, and that the fume hood is running.
6
After ensuring that all bolts, caps, and other fittings connected to the vessel are tightened appropriately,
the inlet regulator should be set. The inlet regulator is connected to the braided hose from the nitrogen
tank. This regulator should be set to the desired internal pressure of the autoclave, which currently is
limited to approximately 15 psig. With the exchange of the parts referenced in the “Realizing Full
Potential” section, this regulator is capable of handing the full designed 150 psig in the future.
Now that the desired pressure is set, the ball valve connected to the inlet regulator can be opened to
pressurize the vessel. This valve should be opened completely, not partially, and should be left open
until the curing process is complete.
After the curing process is complete, the inlet ball valve should be shut and the vacuum pump turned
off. The vent ball valve, connected to the outlet of the manifold on top of the vessel, can now be
opened to vent the pressurized gas into the fume hood. Once gas flow out of the vessel has ceased, the
bolts on the door can be unfastened and the door opened. The vent ball valve should also be shut at
this time and the fume hood may be turned off.
7
Maintenance of Door and O-Ring
The vessel door needs light maintenance to ensure that a proper seal will occur during use. Periodically,
grease the o-ring. Also, whenever the vessel door is closed, ensure that a couple of bolts (opposite side
from the hinge) are inserted through the flanges and tightened at least hand-tight. This will reduce wear
and tear on the hinge.
Hooking up New Nitrogen Bottle
When attaching a new bottle of Nitrogen to the autoclave, crack open the valve briefly to blow out any
dirt that might be in the nozzle before attaching the inlet hose to the tank. Note that no Teflon Tape or
any other sealing compound should be used for this connection; the connection is a flare type fitting.
For the connection between the hose and the regulator, however, an appropriate sealing compound
should be used.
Safety Considerations
Hot Surfaces
Once heating is integrated into the vessel, care will need to be observed while the vessel is being
heated. Insulation around the vessel will be necessary, and around the extended surfaces such as
flanges and pipe fittings. However, the inside of the vessel will still be extremely hot after a curing
operation, and therefore care should be taken when removing parts that have just been heated. In
these conditions the inner wall of the autoclave in particular will be very hot, and should not be
touched. Use of heat-safe gloves is recommended; alternatively, do not fully open the door until the
inside has sufficiently cooled so as to prevent personal injury.
Furthermore, since the gas within the pressure vessel is to be heated potentially to very high
temperatures well above the level where burns can occur, neither the door nor any other ports should
be opened until all pressure within the autoclave has been vented through the exhaust line into a fume
hood.
8
Bottled Gases
The autoclave is pressurized using bottled nitrogen gas. This is an inert gas ideal for autoclave
operation, especially when heating is integrated. Proper handling procedures should be observed with
these bottles, as misuse can result in major damage to person or property.
Never open the valve when the tank is disconnected from the inlet regulator on the autoclave. Similarly,
do not open the pressurization ball valve unless the vessel is fully sealed and ready for operation. Also,
any protective cap that comes with the tank should be put in place when the tank is not hooked up.
Use a cart for moving the tanks, and ensure that the tank is restrained from falling off of the cart.
Usually appropriate carts will have a chain or strap for this purpose, ensure that it is used. Make sure
the valve cover is in position before moving the tank.
Once the tank is in the desired position alongside the autoclave, use the strap on the clamp to secure
the tank to the vessel.
The above are just general guidelines, make sure to follow all RIT procedures for handling high-pressure
tanks.
Pressurized Chamber
While in operation, the autoclave is under high pressures which can cause injury if allowed to escape.
Even at low pressures such as 10 psig, the force on the door alone is hundreds or even thousands of
pounds, and as such proper safety precautions need to be observed while operating the vessel.
Ensure that all fittings added to the vessel are tightly sealed (using Teflon Tape or the like), and are rated
to handle the pressures that will be used. The fittings supplied with the manifold are not all rated for
pressure, and should all be replaced should operating pressures exceed 15 psig. This is discussed further
in the "Realizing Full Potential" section later in this document. While pressurizing, if any leaks are
observed, close the pressurization valve and vent the pressure. Then correct the leaks before
proceeding.
Furthermore, ensure that all pressure has been evacuated from the vessel before attempting to open, or
even slightly loosen, the door or any of the pass-through ports. Failure to vent all pressure before doing
these tasks may result in personal or property damage. The pressure gage on the door is intended to
provide feedback on the internal pressure toward this end, ensure that the gage reads zero BEFORE
loosening ANYTHING.
9
Entrapment Hazard
The pressure vessel is large enough for a person to be closed within. Under no circumstances is any
person, pet (or any other object that is not intended to be autoclaved) to be left inside the vessel while
to door is shut. Before closing the door, ensure that all personnel is safely outside of the vessel.
Door Stop
A spring-loaded door stop has been integrated into the pressure vessel. This stop is intended to hold
the door in an open position, and must be released in order to close the door. In order to release it,
simply pull upward on the handle and swing the door shut. If desired, the handle can be turned 90
degrees to keep it retracted. However, if the door is to be left open, the handle should be released such
that it prevents the door from closing prematurely.
Torquing of Bolts
Torquing the bolts and all plumbing fixtures on the vessel properly is the key to preventing leaks during
operation. For low-pressure applications such as 15 psig maximum working pressure, the door bolts
need only be tightened wrench-tight, and only a few equally-spaced (circumferentially) bolts are
needed. For higher working pressures than this, the bolts should be tightened (to approximately 200
foot-pounds for 150 psig, less may be possible at intermediate pressures), and ALL bolts should be used.
10
Should leaks be observed during pressurization, stop pressurizing (close the pressurization valve),
evacuate all pressure (via the dump valve), and tighten the bolts further. The same is true for the caps
and plugs for the pass-through ports. The plumbing manifold should also be tightened such that no
leaks occur; the use of Teflon Tape greatly helps with sealing the threads.
Stability Concerns
With a vessel that weighs over 1000 pounds empty, tipping is a concern. The stand for the vessel was
built wide and low so as to lower the center of gravity and prevent a tendency of the vessel to tip.
Furthermore, the majority of the weight of the vessel is near the front, and when the door is opened,
the center of gravity is close to the front of the stand. Therefore, a pair of ratchet straps have been
included which secure the vessel to the cart. However, care should be taken to not place any additional
weight on the front of the vessel, particularly when the door is open, as the vessel is still capable of
tipping forward, and should it tip sufficiently far forward, major injury may result. Securing the stand to
the floor, if possible, is recommended.
There are a total of four caster wheels on the autoclave stand which are to make moving the vessel
easier. While the vessel is not being moved, however, the wheels should be turned outward and all
wheels should be locked with the integrated brake to ensure that the vessel does not move. Turning the
wheels outward further helps with stability.
Vapor Concerns
Curing of composite resins often releases noxious and/or toxic fumes which should not be breathed in.
This is particularly an issue when cured under elevated temperatures. Therefore, no ports (including the
door) should be loosened until all pressure has been vented from the autoclave through the exhaust line
only into a running fume hood. This will also ensure that the pressurized Nitrogen is not released into
the room where it could potentially make the air unsafe to breathe.
NOT TO BE MODIFIED
The pressure vessel as delivered is not to be physically modified in any way aside from switching out
components in the pass-through ports. Any changes to the vessel including welding or drilling can
weaken the vessel and may render it unsafe for pressurized applications. Furthermore, any
modifications to the pass-throughs such as the assembling of new fittings in these ports should be
properly tested for safe pressure handling before full operation.
11
Realizing Full Potential
Parts to be changed for high-pressure operation
The following components delivered with the autoclave should be exchanged for proper pressure-rated
ones if internal pressures are to exceed 15 psig:


ALL black or galvanized plumbing components making up the manifold on the top of the tank
need to be replaced with appropriate pressure-rated fittings. The pressure rating may vary
depending on application, but should exceed the maximum pressure that the vessel may
experience (determined by the pressure at which the blow-off valve vents).
The blow-off valve needs to be replaced as well. It is set to vent at 24 psig and bleed down to
roughly 20 psig, so a desired operating pressure exceeding this requires a new valve. In ordering
a new one, order the blow-off pressure to be only slightly above the maximum operating
pressure desired (i.e. if the maximum operating pressure is to be 100 psig, the valve should be
set to blow at a pressure no higher than 120 psig).
Please note that ASME certification will be necessary to properly operate the autoclave at higher
pressures than 15 psig. As the vessel has been submitted to a test over twice the designed pressure,
while the ASME test is at 1.5, the vessel should pass certification, but the process needs to be
undertaken for these higher pressures.
Recommendations for Full Functionality
To realize the full functionality of the autoclave similar to that of a commercial system, the additions of a
heating system, insulation, and a full controls system are necessary. This will generate a very userfriendly experience with additional safeties built in. The recommended components and some
reasoning for their selection are included below. Users may desire a different solution, but such
solutions should consider the initial design parameters for the autoclave and should make sure that they
do not violate the integrity of the pressure vessel (no welding, cutting, or drilling of the vessel under any
circumstances!). The full versions of these recommendations are also included on the P10229 EDGE
website (http://edge.rit.edu/content/P10229/public/Home).
It is recommended that another Senior Design Team complete these improvements to the vessel. As
the majority of the mechanical work is done, one Mechanical Engineer should be required (heating and
mechanical integration), along with a couple software engineers (for programming the interface) and an
electrical engineer (wiring/controls) should result in the best possible system. While such a team may
12
decide on different methods than those selected and discussed below, consideration should be given to
these options.
Heating Recommendations
Heating Load to Overcome
In analyzing the pressure vessel for the heating load, it was determined that a total of approximately
8.6kW would be needed to heat the vessel up to a full temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. An
additional 1kW would be needed to heat the volume of Nitrogen gas at 150 psi pressure within the
vessel. See the Heating Analysis Document (/public/Analysis_Files/Heating analysis summary.doc) for
more details. The CAD files used for analysis are also in the Heating Analysis Folder
(/public/Analysis_Files/Heating FEA/) in Pro Engineer format. Thus it was decided to go for a heating
capacity of 12kW so as to allow for heating up the carbon-fiber parts and molds (which will have low
thermal mass due to a lack of steel comprising the molds). At least this capacity is recommended,
though perhaps more will be deemed necessary by future groups.
Heating System Method
Heating Elements
For the actual heating method, Incoloy-sheathed tubular heating elements were selected through our
concept selection, and in fact the use of these elements is the most common for electrically-heated
pressure vessels in the industry, as determined by our research. Several companies exist that provide
these elements online, including http://hotwatt.com, http://omega.com, and http://tempco.com. In
searching for ~240V capable elements (we attempted to avoid 440V due to the relative scarcity of such
outlets), two were found on Omega that would suffice. These were part numbers TRSS-10065/240V--a
6kW unit, 100" long-- (had a stainless steel sheath however) at $285 each, and TRSSN-7065/240V--a
4kW unit, 7-" long-- (also stainless steel sheath as opposed to the desired Incoloy) at $195 each (at the
time of this writing, March 2010). These elements would have to be ordered as a straight section and
bent ourselves into the desired configurations, and minimum bend radii were not specified, though
discussion with the company may well find out such specifications. Furthermore, annealing would need
to be specified so that these could be field-bent, possibly adding additional cost. In calling up Tempco, a
number of options totaling 12kW were found, all in fully annealed Incoloy sheathes, meaning that they
could be ordered and then bent, no special instructions for ordering would be needed. Minimum bend
radii were specified for field bending (see the document "Tempco Tubular Heaters.pdf" in the
Components folder on EDGE), and the option to have Tempco bend them was also possible. Unit sizes
from 2kW each (6 would be needed) up to 6kW were available in stock. Due to the available 3-phase
power in the lab which we initially intended to use, it was deemed simplest to use three equally-sized
elements to balance the phases, and so THE04059 was selected, at a cost then of $131.05 each. Part
numbers THE04056 (2kW), THE04058 (3kW), and THE04061 (6kW) were also available. These elements
offered the highest current density, allowing for shorter lengths to attain the necessary power. Similar
13
elements are recommended, though the possibility of some sort of heater to wrap the vessel is possible.
These elements were planned to be placed right in front of a blower in order to maintain uniform
temperature within the vessel.
Mounting the Heaters
We also planned to order bulkhead connectors for each element from Tempco (at a cost of $34.95 per
element) to facilitate easy connection to a mounting plate, though other possibilities exist which might
be desirable for future teams. Crimping the elements onto a plate was proposed in the Tempco
literature, but the connectors offer a simple thread-on connection through a plate, making for very
simple installation. We also planned to order these elements with a standard stud for connection,
which is simply a threaded stud at the end of each element with a couple of nuts. A ring terminal
connector could then be sandwiched between these nuts to connect power cables. A simple bent plate
was devised to mount the elements to which could then be attached to the internal liner or internal rails
of the vessel, allowing for removal and maintenance of the elements.
14
Bending the Heating Elements
The bend formation, shown below, was selected so as to ensure that the long (69” overall) heating
elements would fit within the diameter of the vessel while still presenting the maximum surface area to
the circulation fan. This would help to ensure maximum uniform heat distribution within the autoclave.
Locating the elements near the rear of the vessel, as opposed to running them along the top of the
vessel lengthwise, in addition to presenting the most surface area to the fan, does not impede on the
working diameter of the vessel, and also removes a potential safety hazard of still-hot elements near
where operators may be removing finished parts.
15
Heat Circulation Concept Overview
The heat circulation system was also designed for this vessel, and consisted of an externally-mounted
motor with a shaft passing through a shaft seal into the pressure vessel with a fan blade attached to the
end. A fairly common method of circulation in autoclaves according to our research, this mechanism
would sit on the very back of the vessel and would ensure an even distribution of the heat within the
pressure vessel. The heating elements would be arranged in front of the blower so as to provide
maximum effectiveness. The CAD models are also available in the CAD models folder
(/public/CAD_Models/Matt D.-ProE) in Pro Engineer format.
Needed Airflow - Blower Motor, Fan Blade
Part numbers are listed in the BOM (/public/Team_Documents/BOM.xls - on the Sub-system Breakdown
tab) for the chosen parts. According to research from several places, including the PDF file
(/public/Reference_Materials/General_Reference/Autoclave Cure Systems.pdf) and Wikipedia
(wikipedia:Autoclave_(industrial)), it is fairly standard for the linear rate of airflow within an autoclave to
be between 250-500 fpm through the length of the vessel. For the 20” internal diameter of this
autoclave (accounting for 2" of insulation around the inside), that amounts to between 785-1570 cfm of
air flow. This is over the open area of the vessel, so we chose the approximate mid-point of 1000 cfm as
the target for the blower/fan arrangement, knowing that parts, racks, and such would take up some of
the volume of the vessel as well. The selected fan blade (from http://grainger.com) will generate this
1000 cfm when powered by a 1/50 hp motor rotating at 1550 rpm, which the selected motor will
provide according to the listed specifications. Attempts were made to find blowers rated to operate
within a heated environment of up to 400F, but no commercially available units were located (most
were development units for various companies, and prohibitively expensive). Therefore the motor was
to be mounted externally with a shaft seal in the vessel itself allowing the shaft to pass through and turn
the blade.
16
Mounting the Circulation System
The intent, for simplicity of future maintenance, was to mount the motor directly to a plug that would
thread into a rear bulkhead pass-through port that RG&E would weld onto the vessel. Without any
foreknowledge of the exact profile of the rear cap, the length of shaft needed to ensure that the fan
blade would be removed from the walls an appropriate amount was indeterminable, and so the crosssectional CAD model is just an approximation of the lengths needed. Basically, the shaft seal would be
placed into a properly machined groove in the plug, with a steel tube welded onto the end. A bearing in
the end of the tube would provide a proper bearing surface for the shaft to rotate on, and the fan blade
would be mounted to the shaft. Therefore, when the shaft seal needs replacement, the entire assembly
(minus the blade, which would need to be removed beforehand from inside the vessel) can be removed
and the plug/seal/shaft assembly replaced (the seal is by far the most expensive component of this
assembly). For reference, the shaft seal selected is indeed rated to 400F (actually 450F) operating
temperatures according to the specifications listed on http://mcmaster.com. Finding seals that can
handle the high temperatures was in fact the toughest part, as most seals are not rated for high
temperatures, merely high pressures. The pressure rating is not an issue with this seal, at 250 psi for air,
compared to the maximum designed operating pressure of 150 psi.
The blower motor was to be mounted onto the plug as well, through a bracket arrangement. This motor
is an 115VAC motor, which would be simple to wire in, as it can run on a standard wall outlet if needed
(incidentally drawing less than 1 Amp of current at full load), though integration into the main power
feed to the vessel to limit connections to just the one plug would be desirable for ease of operation.
While a different team may come up with a different concept for heat circulation, this one should be
simple to implement and meet the needs of circulation within the vessel.
Summary of Components
The major components used for the initial design are listed below, other components such as metal for a
mounting bracket are not listed here.




Heating Elements (3)
o Company: Tempco (tempco.com)
o P/N: THE04061
Blower Motor
o Supplier: Drill Spot (drillspot.com)
o P/N: 58459
5/16" Shaft Seal
o Supplier: McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com)
o P/N: 13125K76
Fan Blade
o Supplier: Grainger (grainger.com)
17

o P/N: 2UJU3
Insulation (already purchased)
o Supplier: ATS Acoustics (atsacoustics.com)
Controls Recommendations
Note (Before Continuing)
One cannot build a useful or effective control system without understanding both user needs and
system functionality, therefore anyone reading this document should start with the Heating & Electrical
Recommendations as to understand what type of system they are designing. Please read the safety
recommendations, which can be found later in this document, before performing any modifications.
Control Recommendations (Introduction)
Here you will find recommendations for the Controls design of the composites autoclave. While P10229
will not be implementing any control system, the conceptual designs are found below. Safety
Recommendations can be found at the end of this document which reiterates many of the precautions
we are taking in our design to reduce failures and maximize safety in the event of any failure.
General Background Information
This composite autoclave will ideally be capable of achieving 400 F at 150 psig. However, due to safety
concerns, the system pressure should be limited to 15 PSI unless special permission is granted. It is also
important to note that some items take this into account, and will not operate at the target 150 psig. A
list of these items, as well as the max operating pressure, can be found in this document and should be
verified by checking each items' specification sheet as provided by the company.
Heating
Overview
This vessel requires substantial amounts (several kilowatts) of power to achieve the desired goal of 400F
thus making it necessary to go beyond the standard 120V line, to a 3-phase 220V line (see electrical
recommendations for more details on this decision). Using a 3-phase line with 3 heating elements
means that each element can be placed on a different phase. A fan is used to maintain a relatively
constant temperature throughout the vessel, and therefore this fan must remain on as long as the
autoclave is operating.
Heating Measurement
The heating measurement can be done by using the existing thermistors. They should be placed
throughout the autoclave to verify that both the heating system is working and the fan is maintaining a
constant temperature throughout the vessel. Thermistors by definition are resistors which change
18
resistance as a function of temperature. Therefore one must simply measure the resistance and then
compare that number to the table supplied by the manufacture to find the corresponding temperature.
*( /public/Components/Thermistor Characteristics.pdf) -- Thermistor Spec Sheet
Heating Control
Simple Design
Our design implements relays to control the heating. These offer a simple on/off and allow a single
output to control all 3 relays (one relay for each heating element). This allows for extremely simple
control system with relatively decent accuracy, however there are certainly improvements to be made
as this is not the ideal design.
Improvements
While relays are simple and cheap, they are certainly not the most powerful option. Relays have a
limited lifespan which is related to the number of times they are switched. This means that the more
accurate you design the heating system, the shorter the lifespan of the relays since more accuracy
means more cycling.
This can be overcome by using power transistors, which are solid state devices and thus have no moving
parts. They are designed to operate at high currents, and can easily be designed to act as relays.
However being analog by nature, once can use power transistors to pull the exact amount of power
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needed to offset the heating, or at least get close. This would improve efficiency by not overheating the
system and increase lifetime of the transistors. Therefore, if budget allows, this is strongly
recommended.
Pressure
Overview
As previously mentioned, this vessel is capable of being pressurized up to 150 psig however the design is
not capable of delivering and maintaining that pressure as a combination of cost savings and safety.
Low Pressure Design
A low pressure (20 psig) safety valve is already included in the existing autoclave. To run the Autoclave
safely at a high pressure the aforementioned plumbing fittings must be replaced along with the blow-off
valve. A valve with the appropriate pressure rating can be selected from a list under McMaster Carr
part number 4673K71.
Control System
DAQ vs. PLC (Nomenclature)
While industry experts divide hardware control systems into numerous sub divisions, these will be
ignored for the remainder of this discussion. The hardware control system we recommend is referred to
as a DAQ (Data Acquisition Unit) by NI (National Instruments). However it is quite similar in operation
and capability to a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and therefore, we shall refer to this piece of
hardware as a PLC throughout this discussion, since PLC is a broader term.
Overview
The control system is comprised of two parts, a PLC and a PC (Desktop Computer) as shown in this
figure:
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as well as in /public/Drawings/Block_Diagrams/Block_Diagram_PLC.vsd.
While either part is single-handedly capable of acting as a control system, using both parts allows for a
more stable and more user friendly control system. The DAQ is much more stable than a computer, and
is easier to program & interface with hardware (such as the pressure transducer and thermistors) as the
PLC we chose can be programmed using LABVIEW and has several I/O (Input & Output) ports. The
computer offers permanent storage and an excellent HMI (Human Machine Interface) as one can use a
keyboard, mouse, full size monitor, and any other of input devices with minimal effort. Therefore it is
important to use both of these devices to complement each other and create a system which is more
versatile, robust and easier to use than either device could produce alone.
PLC
Overview
The PLC offers an extremely stable system and numerous I/O ports which are straightforward to
interface with circuit elements such as a thermistor and pressure transducer. Each PLC has a different
set of design tools which can be used to program the PLC, the easiest for this PLC is almost certainly
LABVIEW.
Software Design
The software loaded onto the PLC should simply act as a control system, requesting instructions one at a
time from the computer and running each instruction (consisting of target temperature, target pressure
& desired runtime) the specified time before asking for the next instruction, running each instruction in
order until the process (a set of instructions) is complete. During each instruction, the PLC should simply
regulate the temperature and pressure using the hardware as described above. The software flowchart
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(/public/Drawings/Block_Diagrams/Software Flowchart.vsd) shows a step by step list of each condition
the PLC should evaluate.
Computer
Overview
The computer offers several advantages over a standard DAQ or PLC. First of all, the computer has nonvolatile memory, offering the ability to save data without power. This is extremely useful if you want to
run the same process multiple times, as one could easily save a number of different processes on the
computer and easily retrieve them at a later date. Second the computer offers more control to the
programmer, especially with respect to the GUI and overall appearance of the autoclave interface. This
control can translate directly into both more power and easier use for the operator. It is difficult on a
small touch screen, or even an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) with push buttons, to design a processes with
numerous steps or to load/save processes.
Software Design
Therefore one should create a program on the computer which simply acts as an interface to the PLC.
This program should allow the user to easily design complex processes with a number of instructions as
well as offer the ability to load/save these processes. However, to minimize damage from computer
failure, the computer will only send the instructions to the PLC, and will not take any part in
controlling/regulating the autoclave itself.
Suggested Parts (Control System Only)
Note: Please see the appropriate sections to find the required materials & parts for the Heating &
Electrical components.


Thermocouple
o
Company: Digikey (Digikey.com)
o
Part # 290-1911-ND
o
Company: Test Products International(tpi-thevalueleader.com)
o
Part # GK11M
High Temperature High Pressure Transducer
o
Company: Omega (omega.com)
o
Part # PX91N0-10KSV
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

PLC/DAQ
o
Company: National Instruments (NI.com)
o
Part # NI USB-600
Relay for Heating Elements
o
Company: MPJA (MPJA.com)
o
Part # 501-00010
Upgrades to Higher Pressure Design
Safety Warning
As previously stated, this autoclave should not be run above 15 psig without special permission as well
as knowledge of appropriate risks & safety precautions for pressure vessels. This vessel should NEVER
be run above 150 psig. Please read the safety page (found below) before making any
upgrades/alterations to any portion of the autoclave.
Required Modifications
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In order to safely use the autoclave at a pressure higher than 15psig several parts must be replaced. The
pressure blow off valve should be replaced with one of similar design but with a higher blow-off
pressure. The desired pressure can be selected from a list under McMaster-Carr part number 4673K71.
In addition to this all external manifold black pipe and galvanized fittings should be replaced with
pressure-rated versions. The braided stainless steel hoses, ball valves, and Mueller plugs and caps
supplied with the Autoclave pass-throughs can be re-used at high pressures.
Current Design
The current design includes a safety valve which automatically releases at 20 psig. Obviously, this needs
to be replaced with one that would allow up to 150 psig while simultaneously preventing unsafe
pressure, such as a 175 psig valve.
Safety
Safety information can be found in the Safety Recommendations section.
Electrical Recommendations
Electrical Recommendations
Introduction
Here you will find recommendations for the Electrical design of the composites autoclave. While
P10229 will not be implementing the electrical control, designs were still thought out and some pieces
have been designed for certain components.
Suggested Parts
Electrical Supply

Three-Phase 240V Safety Switch: McMaster Carr #7524K22
o
3 wire, 60A max switch
o
Fusable to desired value
o
$83.89
Electrical Components

High current bulkhead connector: PAVE Technology Co. 2028
o
5-8AWG wires
o
Threaded Connector
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o

$270.00
Heating coil relay: Crouzet #GA312D45Z
o
3-phase up to 660Vac at 45A output
o
4-32Vdc control voltage
o
$132.29
General Information
When reading through the following recommendations, please reference the Electrical Control
Schematic:
Temperature Reading Circuit Design
Using a National Instruments DAQ as the basis for all circuit design, the input to the DAQ needs to be 02V for an acceptable Tolerance. Knowing that the thermistors in the chamber have a maximum ambient
temperature of 10kOhms and a minimum resistance of 30Ohms. Using Ohms Law we find that the
maximum current is:
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Knowing that the current through the loop is 100mA, the voltage drop across the resistor can be found
to be 2V. This is not the most efficient circuit, but was done so for cost savings. If a more efficient
circuit is desired, a signal conditioner can be used. These are readily available and can be found for any
desired conversion factor wanted.
The thermistors will be run to the outside of the chamber through two PAVE 1588 connectors which
consist of 9-22AWG wires. These have already been purchased and can be re-routed as necessary. For
P10229's contribution to the autoclave, the thermistors will be connected directly to a temperature
gauge, but when a control system is implemented in the future these can be reconnected to the DAQ for
proper interfacing.
Heating Control Circuit Design
Using the Crouzet #GA312D45Z 3-phase relay to control the on/off state of the heating coils, the DAQ
will send a signal to open or close the circuit depending on the feedback from the temperature reading
circuit. Also hooked in series with the feed will be a thermal fuse which will cut the feed to the circuit if
the vessel experiences overpressure. A suggested value for the thermal fuse is 450 degrees Fahrenheit
which will allow for some fluctuation around the 400 degree Fahrenheit maximum temperature.
Safety Recommendations
Safety by Part
Overview
Safety equipment should be installed in hardware to prevent any unsafe conditions and automatically
shut the autoclave down to a safe state in the event of an unsafe condition.
PLC Software
There should be no question that software can and should detect unsafe conditions such as overheating,
over-pressurization, computer crashing. The PLC should also validate any and all data sent by the
computer before any attempt to run is made.
Computer
As previously mentioned, computers are notoriously unstable and should not be assumed to be working
properly until confirmed. Therefore one should periodically verify that the computer is still capable of
communication via a simple request. This request can also be used to verify the operator is monitoring
the system, as discussed below.
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Hardware
While we chose a PLC because of the relative stability, there is no assurance that the PLC will never have
any glitches. Even if there were such a guarantee, one still cannot guarantee that hardware such as the
pressure transducer and thermistors will not eventually wear out, or that there will never be power
fluctuation/outages. Therefore one should take a number of precautions to prevent
dangerous/undesired reactions to such problems.
To prevent overheating, thermal fuses can be included in series with the heating elements. In the event
of overheating, and failure of the controller to act, the thermal fuses will blow thereby stopping any and
all power being delivered to the heating elements. Since thermal fuses will need to be replaced each
time they blow they need to be modular, or one can design a circuit breaker type device using thermal
circuit breakers.
Standard fuses should also be used to prevent excess current draw for all devices, or at least a single
fuse for the entire autoclave. As with thermal fuses, the standard fuses can be replaced with circuit
breakers.
A blow-off valve is already included in the autoclave to prevent over-pressurization. This will
automatically open when the pressure exceeds a safety limit.
Operator
Like the computer, there is no guarantee that the operator is monitoring the process unless this can be
confirmed. To help assure the operator is monitoring the autoclave system, one should implement a
prompt on the computer which will verify that the operator is around. Such a message could be "press
'continue' to continue running the autoclave" with a timer which will shutdown the autoclave when the
timer reaches 0 and the operator has not canceled the timer. This alert should give the operator ample
time to respond while verifying supervision at all times, such as a 5 minute timer activated every 15
minutes. As mentioned above, this timer can double as verification that the computer is still
communicating with the PLC.
Safety by Default
Introduction
As should be clear by now, the safety is a primary concern for everyone in regards to this project.
Therefore we have added this section, which contains the same information as the section above. The
purpose of this section is to reorganize the same information in a different manner, namely by type of
fault instead of by piece of equipment. This helps to show which faults are addressed by what
equipment.
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Loss of power (blackout/brownout)
All relays/electrical switches should be set to 'safe' (generally this is Off or Normally Open). Also, when
power is resumed, the PLC should maintain everything in the off state (aka: not attempt to resume
operation) until otherwise specified.
Hardware/Software Failure in PC
During runtime the PC should be transmitting intermittently to the PLC, therefore one should expect a
signal to:

start and stop within a specified window (eg: 1 minute)

repeat every so often (eg:15 minutes)
Therefore one must assume the computer is not working properly if the signal (from PC to PLC):

is maintained for longer than 1 minute

is garbage (does not follow expected protocol)

does not repeat within the expected timeframe, one can
Hardware/Software Failure in PLC
PLC failure is uncommon since a PLC was specifically chosen for reliability, but such failure is none-theless still possible. While there is no way the PLC can repair itself and little it can do to even monitor
itself one should still assume the PLC will somehow fail. This is addressed in the sections below, each of
which has a piece of hardware to specifically monitor this one point/aspect of safety within the
autoclave. Since a full control system will, ideally, take care of all every point below, any and all
hardware is simply an additional safety. Therefore if any safety hardware is activated, one should
closely examine the PLC & PC to find out why the software failed to address the safety issue.
Over Pressurization
A safety valve has been added to the design to prevent the system from reaching a potentially unsafe
level. However, certain parts may be set to a lower pressure than the safety valve, and therefore
damage to the part may still occur before the safety valve is activated. This is the responsibility of the
operator to be monitoring the pressure gauge to verify that the pressure is maintained at the correct
level.
Autoclave Overheats
Thermal fuses were designed to prevent the autoclave from reaching potentially unsafe levels. These
fuses will blow (just like a normal fuse will blow on too much current) if the temperature reaches a
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critical point of 450F. This will stop all power flowing to the heating elements thus preventing the
temperature from further increasing.
Fails to Pressurize
There is no hardware to specifically address this issue, instead it is the job of the operator to watch the
pressure gauge. Testing should indicate the speed at which the vessel pressurizes and therefore the
operator should have an approximate time for pressurization.
Loss of Pressure
As with failing to pressurize, there is no hardware to specifically monitor this (beyond the PLC controlling
unit) therefore the operator should be monitoring the pressure gauge during the run, not just during the
initial setup.
Uneven Heating
This is also the responsibility of the operator to be monitoring the various temperatures (displayed on
the PC).
Autoclave Fails to Reach Proper Temperature
There is no hardware to specifically address this issue, instead it is the job of the operator to watch the
pressure gauge. Testing should indicate the speed at which the vessel pressurizes and therefore the
operator should have an approximate time for pressurization.
Other Problems
Any problems not specifically addressed above can be addressed by a stop button supplied to the
operator. This should force everything into a 'safe' mode in which power is cut to the autoclave system.
The PC & PLC should not lose power, especially if one is expecting them to record the event.
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