Experimental Study on Cavitation Instabilities of Small Turbopump for Rocket Engine

Abstract

A cavitation test was carried out for a fuel pump designated for a liquid rocket engine. The fuel enters the pump perpendicular to the direction of the shaft. Cavitation instabilities were investigated using an accelerometer installed on the pump casing and pressure transducers placed at the inlet and the outlet of the pump. Rotating cavitation appeared at a frequency faster than the pump rotational frequency, and cavitation surge appeared at a slower frequency. Cavitation surge appeared within the range of cavitation coefficients where rotating cavitation occurred. The frequencies of the rotating cavitation and the cavitation surge decreased as the cavitation coefficient and flow rate decreased, and were proportional to the rotational speed.