PUMP TESTS CONDUCTED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRATT AND WHITNEY AIRCRAFT LIQUID METAL TURBOPUMP, TP-1
Initial development tests of the electric drive versions of the TP-1 turbopump were conducted in both water and liquid metal in the Pump Turbine Laboratory at CANEL. The hydraulic characteristics of this 3000 gpm NaK turbopump were established at approximately half design speed during 276 hr of water tests. In addition, calibration of the gas sweep and lubrication circuits was accomplished. It was established that the over-all pump efficiency was 74% at a flow rate of 1500 gpm for a speed of 4000 rpm. A total of 60.1 hr was accumulated in hot NaK which included 26.8 hr at a temperature of 1050 deg F. The pump speed during these latter tests was restricted to 3000 rpm because of vibration problems caused by the test facility jack-shaft. These first liquid metal development tests were prematurely stopped because of test-facility problems and pumpassembly errors. However, these tests served to indicate that no major design deficiencies exist in the temperature range investigated. To support the above TP-1 turbopump development effort, a series of tests was conducted on an available 400 gpm NaK pump, designated Model S-1, which was modified to incorporate the essential design features of the sealing scheme of the TP-1 unit. A total of 1541 hr of hot NaK testing and l95 hr of water testing was completed on this model pump. The liquid metal tests included a successful endurance test of 1148 hr at 1000 deg F. Limited water testing of two other available model pumps with capacities of 1600 gpm and 2000 gpm were accomplished to obtain basic hydraulic information on cavitation, head-flow, efficiency and radial thrust characteristics. The data taken on the 1600 gpm Model P-6 pump indicated a severe mismatch between the diffuser vanes and the impeller with resulting inferior performance. The tests of the 2000 gpm Model P-9 pump were more satisfactory, and a peak pump hydraulic efficiency of 73% was obtained at a flow rate of 1350 gpm and a shaft speed of 3500 rpm. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Div., United Aircraft Corp., Middletown, Conn.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AF33(600)-41233
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-006074
- OSTI ID:
- 4080919
- Report Number(s):
- PWAC-297
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-61
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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