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 liquid hydrogen (LH2) cavitation offers a significant opportunity for improvements in LH2 turbopump performance and reliability. LH2 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 (~50K lbf thrust) and ascent/descent modules (<10K lbf thrust), a better understanding of LH2 cavitation is needed to optimize LH2 turbopump performance, weight and reliability. Phase I of this SBIR will identify methodologies for detailed LH2 cavitation testing, design an LH2 test rig, design an H2O test rig, and implement cavitation model improvements using available data. Phase II will include fabrication and test of both the LH2 and H2O test rigs and implementation of further cavitation model improvements based on the detailed back-to-back cavitation data for LH2 and H2O.