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Orbital transfer vehicle oxygen turbopump technology. volume 2: nitrogen and ambient oxygen testing
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Brannam, R. J. Church, S. J. Buckmann, P. S. Sabiers, R. L. Chen, B. H. |
| Copyright Year | 1990 |
| Description | The testing of a rocket engine oxygen turbopump using high pressure ambient temperature nitrogen and oxygen as the turbine drive gas in separate test series is discussed. The pumped fluid was liquid nitrogen or liquid oxygen. The turbopump (TPA) is designed to operate with 400 F oxygen turbine drive gas which will be demonstrated in a subsequent test series. Following bearing tests, the TPA was finish machined (impeller blading and inlet/outlet ports). Testing started on 15 February 1989 and was successfully concluded on 21 March 1989. Testing started using nitrogen to reduce the ignition hazard during initial TPA checkout. The Hydrostatic Bearing System requires a Bearing Pressurization System. Initial testing used a separate bearing supply to prevent a rubbing start. Two test series were successfully completed with the bearing assist supplied only by the pump second stage output which entailed a rubbing start until pump pressure builds up. The final test series used ambient oxygen drive and no external bearing assist. Total operating time was 2268 seconds. There were 14 starts without bearing assist and operating speeds up to 80,000 rpm were logged. Teardown examination showed some smearing of silverplated bearing surfaces but no exposure of the underlying monel material. There was no evidence of melting or oxidation due to the oxygen exposure. The articulating, self-centering hydrostatic bearing exhibited no bearing load or stability problems. The only anomaly was higher than predicted flow losses which were attributed to a faulty ring seal. The TPA will be refurbished prior to the 400 F oxygen test series but its condition is acceptable, as is, for continued operating. This was a highly successful test program. |
| File Size | 11368545 |
| Page Count | 166 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19910005994 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t29934p3f |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1990-12-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Spacecraft Propulsion And Power Orbit Transfer Vehicles Oxygen Stability Melting Monel Trademark Ignition Rocket Engines Hazards High Pressure Hydrostatics Turbine Pumps Checkout Ambient Temperature Impellers Liquid Oxygen Liquid Nitrogen Oxidation Loads Forces Anomalies Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
