Coherent-Phase, Cavitation Monitoring System for Turbomachinery

The focus of the Phase I work proposed herein is the preliminary design of a Coherent Phase Cavitation Monitoring System (CPCMS) for turbomachinery. Cavitation is the process of boiling water which occurs when local hydrodynamic pressures in the areas of accelerated flow drop below the vapor pressure of the fluid. When cavitation occurs on the turbopumps for liquid rocket engine propulsion systems, it can i) severely degrade the overall system efficiency, ii) cause excessive structural vibration, and iii) create erosion damage to the turbopump blades. The proposed Coherent Phase Cavitation Monitoring System will utilize our proven innovative signature analysis techniques to accurately detect the cavitation inception point (when it occurs), severity (magnitude), and location, with an on-line, continuous monitoring (stand-alone) system. The ultimate effectiveness of this system will be attributed to its unique signal processing ability to optimally extract cavitation generated signature without being subjected to the commonly encountered high frequency discrete interference. The Phase I effort will focus on the overall system design; sensors, data acquisition and evaluation of optimal signal processing techniques. The end result will be the overall Cavitation Monitoring System design to be used by both NASA and industry for online cavitation monitoring of turbomachinery systems.