PHYSICS BASED CAVITATION MODELS FOR ADVANCED HYDROGEN PUMP DESIGN

Cryogenic propellant pumps are often pushed to the limit of cavitation performance in the quest for higher efficiency and lighter weight. The accurate prediction of cryogenic propellant cavitation offers a significant opportunity for improvements in turbopump performance and reliability. Cryogenic propellant turbopumps are typically limited in performance capability and design life due to an inability to accurately model and predict cavitation. With a renewed interest in smaller turbopumps for upper stage engines a better understanding of propellant cavitation is needed to optimize turbopump performance, weight and reliability. Phase I of this SBIR has identified and demonstrated methodologies for detailed cryogenic propellant cavitation testing and designed a cavitation test rig for water and cryogens. Phase II will include fabrication of the test rig and a test program that will acquire benchmark quality cavitation data for water and an LH2 surrogate fluid. The data will then be used to implement cavitation model improvements in several CFD and Pump Design Codes.