Fundamental and Applied Energetics

Propulsion Test Stands (ATD - LAERTE)

The Energetics Technical Means (MTE) unit is a support unit whose main activity is to manage the technical facilities (wind tunnels, gas supply facilities, and so forth) common to the various test benches of the Fundamental and applied energetics department at Palaiseau, to act during the campaigns for various urgent repair operations (labor, manufacture of small parts), and to cooperate with the study teams on the design and manufacture of facility instrumentation (sensors, slaved systems, acquisition, processing and analyses).

This unit consists of a team of 16 people including three distinct sectors:

• Technical facilities
• Proximity shop
• Measurement center

Technical facilities

The ATD laboratory dedicated to supersonic propulsion. Kerosene pumps.

High-pressure air compressors

The "Technical facilities" sector manages the "common parts" of the various experimental energetics facilities at Palaiseau (mainly the ATD and LAERTE laboratories).

Essentially, these facilities include a three-stage compressor delivering a continuous air flow of 10 kg/s at 12 bar, a high-pressure air storage facility (21 tons, 250 bar, 40 kg/s), a storage facility for other gases (oxygen, hydrogen, methane, propane, nitrogen) and a distribution network for water (several tens of liters per second up to 30 bar) and kerosene (3.5 L/s up to 80 bar).

Proximity shop

Proximity shop

The "Proximity shop" sector has a set of machines tools to provide the indispensable reactivity for urgent repair operations occurring during the test campaigns (lathes, mills, plate work, piping, welds, and so forth). Directly on site, it also participates in the installation and removal of various technical equipment and test models.

In close cooperation with the research teams and the DEFA Engineering office, it is in charge of manufacturing sophisticated parts and keeping track of subcontracted operations (such as heat treatments and large scale parts).

This activity is also provided to other Onera departments (DMPH, DEMR, DMMP and others) that have experimental activities at the Palaiseau center.

Measurement center

Laerte command and control desk

The "measurement Center" sector provides the laboratories with the instrumentation and computer facilities for acquisition, processing, and analysis of the measurements taken during the tests.

With the research teams, it also participates in designing and perfecting the slaved systems (control of flow rates, pressures, and so forth) and automatic systems needed for regulating the test stagnation conditions.

Last Update: 9 June 2006 - © ONERA 2009 - Terms of use