Precision Quincy's Specialized Oven Enhances COPV Curing for Aerospace Company

Precision Quincy engineered a state-of-the-art industrial oven tailored for curing composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs), crucial for aerospace applications.

This Class A oven ensures temperature uniformity and meets strict industry standards, including NFPA 86 and OSHA compliance.

Featuring a motorized rotating cart system, it delivers even curing and precise control via an HMI interface. Equipped with advanced safety mechanisms, the oven ensures secure operation while handling volatile organic compounds.

This project exemplifies PQ’s ability to deliver customized, high-performance solutions, enhancing the aerospace industry’s ability to produce critical components efficiently and safely​.

OVERVIEW

Designed to ensure precision curing for aerospace-grade COPVs

Precision Quincy (PQ) designed, engineered, and manufactured a specialized industrial oven for a customer in the aerospace industry to assist in the curing of composite over wrapped pressure vessels (COPVs).

These vessels, essential to the customer’s operations, require precision temperature control and uniform heating to ensure structural integrity during use in aerospace applications.

COPV Oven for Aerospace Industry

Requirements

The customer required a Class A industrial oven with the ability to maintain a high degree of temperature uniformity while processing large composite structures.

The design parameters had to meet both stringent aerospace standards and regulatory codes, including NFPA 86 and OSHA compliance.

Key Specifications

  • Oven Type: Class A oven designed for the curing of COPVs.
  • Operating Temperature:
    • Typical: 110°F to 350°F (43°C to 177°C)
    • Maximum: 350°F (177°C)
    • Uniformity: ±10°F (±5.6°C) at the operating set point.
  • Interior Dimensions:
    • 36″ W x 112″ L x 78″ H.
  • Exterior Dimensions:
    • 75″ W x 257″ L x 143″ H.
  • Weight of Processed Product: 200 lbs per batch.
  • Air Flow: Combination horizontal-vertical air pattern to ensure even heat distribution.
  • Heating System: Incoloy sheathed elements for quick heat-up and longevity, with multiple heater banks for temperature control.

Design Features

COPV Oven for Aerospace Industry Side Angle

Rotating Cart System

  • Precision Quincy integrated a motorized rotating cart to ensure even curing of COPVs. The cart includes powered spindle stations that rotate the product to uniformly cure the epoxy resin.
  • Control over the cart’s operations, such as start, stop, and speed adjustments, is provided via a 10” HMI (Human-Machine Interface), allowing precise adjustments to meet the specific curing needs of the vessel.

Control System

  • The oven is equipped with an Allen-Bradley CompactLogix PLC and Watlow F4T ramp-soak controller. The PLC manages various parameters, including spindle RPM and acceleration.
  • The control system includes a touch-screen HMI interface, facilitating the monitoring of temperature profiles, RPM adjustments, and cylinder pressurization.

Safety and Compliance

  • The oven adheres to the NFPA 86 guidelines, essential for handling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the curing process. The system includes airflow and temperature safety controls to monitor exhaust and recirculation fans, ensuring safe operation.
  • Explosion relief mechanisms, such as reinforced doors and pneumatically powered door seals, were incorporated to handle potential pressure surges.

Materials and Insulation

The oven body was constructed from aluminized steel with a 4” thick mineral wool insulation. This minimizes heat loss and ensures temperature stability during long curing cycles.

Performance Testing

Precision Quincy conducted pre-shipment testing at their facility to ensure performance standards were met.

The oven underwent a multi-point uniformity test, where the air discharge louvers were adjusted to achieve optimal temperature distribution. 

The customer’s representatives were invited to observe the quality assurance tests to ensure the oven met the required specifications before delivery.

Delivery and Installation

The oven was delivered to the customer’s facility as pre-assembled unit weighing 9,500 lbs.

Precision Quincy provided detailed installation guidelines, including requirements for non-combustible flooring and clearance specifications.

The oven was shipped on a flatbed truck with assembly prints and manuals for further installation support.  The customer opted for a supervised startup and training package to ensure seamless integration into their production process.

Conclusion

Precision Quincy’s industrial oven met the customer’s demanding specifications for precision curing, offering advanced features like automated cart systems, robust safety protocols, and high-temperature accuracy.

By leveraging PQ’s expertise in oven manufacturing, the aerospace customer gained a high-performance curing solution critical to the manufacture of aerospace components.

This project highlights Precision Quincy’s ability to deliver highly customized industrial ovens tailored to complex and precise manufacturing environments, supporting cutting-edge innovations in the aerospace industry.