Engineers from "Konstruktorskoye Buro Khimavtomatiki" (KBKhA) in Voronezh have developed a revolutionary technology for the safe disassembly of welded liquid rocket engine lines, completely eliminating contamination of critical components.
The new method is based on the use of an elastic sealing balloon, which is inserted into the fuel line through a standard sensor port for parameter control. Once installed, it is positioned between the future cut zone and the protected engine unit.
The balloon is then filled with high-pressure gas through a reducer and a shut-off valve. As it expands, it tightly presses against the inner walls of the pipeline, effectively isolating the section of the line and creating a hermetic barrier.
After this, the pipe is mechanically cut. The resulting particles and potential contaminants remain on the side of the cut section and do not enter the sensitive elements of the engine.
Upon completion of the work, the pressure in the balloon is reduced, after which it is removed through the same port. The device's surface is cleaned and can be reused.
The development allows the use of welded lines, which are lighter in weight but previously complicated maintenance due to the lack of detachable connections. The new approach retains the advantages of a lightweight design while simultaneously restoring the ability to safely dismantle components without the risk of system contamination.