Effect of the Casing Configurations on the Internal Flow and Unsteady Pressure Fluctuation in Rocket Pump Inducer

Abstract

The effects of the inlet casing configurations on unsteady cavitation were examined with a 3-bladed inducer. The inlet flow and cavitation pattern in two different casings were visualized using PIV (particle image velocimetry) and high-speed video. It was found that the rotating cavitation would be suppressed when the tip clearance at the inducer inlet was increased. The vortex cavitation in tip leakage flow and cavitation in back flow is considered to affect the appearance of the rotating cavitation by the inlet casing configuration.