REFT website

The Historic Rocket Engine Test Facility (RETF)
Lessons

The exhaust from a rocket-engine test needed to be cleaned before it entered the atmosphere. Exhaust was scrubbed in this manner:

Hot gases from the rocket engine nozzle entered the scrubber through a narrow opening in the test cell. These gases were traveling at velocities of 9,000 to 12,000 feet per second (fps) (1.7 miles per second to 2.3 miles per second) and at temperatures up to 6,000°F.
The exhaust stream entered the large scrubber tank (25’ wide by 100’ long) at a speed of 25 fps.
The gases contacted the water spray coming from the nozzles.
Much of the exhaust was converted to steam and escaped through the vertical portion of the scrubber at a velocity of approximately 20 fps and a temperature of 160°F. Several burners on top of the scrubber ignited any hydrogen or other fuel not consumed by the engine. These burners prevented unburned fuel from building to explosive levels inside the
scrubber.
Combustion by-products, water, and condensed steam were trapped by the scrubber and drained into a 20,000-gallon detention tank. Wastewater was retained in this tank until the day's test program was completed, when the wastewater was pumped to a neutralizing tank.
Chemical technicians analyzed the wastewater and determined the quantity and type of additives they needed to neutralize either acidity or alkalinity.
Chemicals were added so that the pH value would meet municipal wastewater standards
The wastewater was pumped to a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Web Curator: history@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible NASA Official: Kevin P. Coleman