Method for precision-cleaning propellant tanks

Abstract

A method for precision-cleaning the aluminum alloy inner wall surface of a tank is disclosed. In one embodiment, the inner wall surface is cleaned by a method including the steps of washing the inner wall surface with a first portion of water, applying an aqueous cleaning solution comprising sodium silicate, sodium tetrafluoroborate and sodium molybdate, and rinsing the inner wall surface with a second portion of water. In a second embodiment, the method is directed to precision-cleaning a launch vehicle booster propellant tank. In this embodiment, the method includes the steps of applying washes of water and aqueous cleaning solution on at least upper and lower sections of the inner wall surface of the tank, washing such sections with water, and analyzing samples of effluent cleaning solution and water collected from the effluent drain of the tank for hydrocarbon and particulate contaminants. In a third embodiment, the method further includes drying the tank and verification of hydrocarbons and nonvolatile residues and then further drying the tank to the system level requirement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.