Automated Shipboard Hypergolic Leak Mitigation System

The current kill vehicle design for the Kinetic Energy Interceptor utilizes a hypergolic liquid fueled DACS. Current Navy regulations prohibit the use of hypergolic propellants aboard ships. Systems for mitigating a hypergolic propellant leak are required prior to gaining approval for sea-basing of these missiles as part of the GMD system. The mitigation must be performed in a way that supports overall Navy goals to reduce manning, and supports deployment aboard Trident SSBNs where the AUR will not be accessible to personnel while underway. Based on these requirements, Streamline Automation proposes to develop an automated system for taking appropriate response to a leak based on the concentration of propellant in the air. At low concentrations, the primary goal is personnel protection, and an active carbon based scrubber will be used. As the concentration increases, the primary goal shifts to preventing flammable or explosive concentrations from being reached. The mitigation response will also shift to injecting water to rapidly reduce the vapor concentration and dilute liquid puddles. The Phase 2 effort will focus on the development of a full-scale prototype system, and integration with the Flexible Payload Module. To ensure the success of this development effort, Streamline Automation will work closely with Electric Boat, Bath Iron Works, Northrop-Grumman Mission Systems, and United Defense LP.