scope:

Description of Driving Event:

On or about January, 1993, the LOX/LN₂ System (an Oxygen Clean Environment) of the LaRC 7" High Temperature TUNNEL Was leak checked using K-Bottle nitrogen. At Langley Research Center, only personnel from the Fluid Systems Section of the Operations Support Division are authorized to work on oxygen clean systems. Personnel doing the leak testing were not from the Fluid Systems Office.

When Fluid Systems Section personnel became aware of the leak testing, they questioned the use of K-Bottle nitrogen from the standpoint of system contamination. While the LN₂ furnished for use in K-Bottles is over 99% pure, the K-Bottle itself, unless specifically tested and posted with appropriate paperwork attesting to that fact, is assumed to be contaminated with rust, hydrocarbons, and/or various other contamination-causing particles.

Langley Handbook 1740.5 governs working with oxygen clean systems.