High Suction Specific Speed Inducers for Cryogenic Upper Stage Engines

There is a significant opportunity to meet higher upper stage engine performance levels by combining a much higher chamber pressure expander cycle engine with advanced technology turbomachinery. The Phase II SBIR goal is to provide a solid foundation foran upper stage engine design focused on IHPRPT goals. Three main Phase II technical objectives must be met to achieve this goal: 1) finalize the cycle configuration and the advanced thrust chamber design, 2) design and rig test a high suction specificspeed fuel pump and then use same methodology to design the oxidizer pump, 3) initiate the design of the other main flow path turbo machinery components, which includes the turbine stages. The Phase I work demonstrated the feasibility of a high chamberpressure expander cycle upper-stage engine to minimize total engine weight. In addition, advanced suction performance pumping technology developed by the proposer will be applied to minimize inlet pressure requirements while avoiding system instabilities,such as rotating cavitation and auto oscillation, without the need for boost pumps. This yields maximum possible rotational speed and performance while minimizing turbopump weight.