High-efficiency pump for space helium transfer. Final Technical Report

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5549510

Hasenbein, R; Izenson, M G; Swift, W L; Sixsmith, H

A centrifugal pump was developed for the efficient and reliable transfer of liquid helium in space. The pump can be used to refill cryostats on orbiting satellites which use liquid helium for refrigeration at extremely low temperatures. The pump meets the head and flow requirements of on-orbit helium transfer: a flow rate of 800 L/hr at a head of 128 J/kg. The overall pump efficiency at the design point is 0.45. The design head and flow requirements are met with zero net positive suction head, which is the condition in an orbiting helium supply Dewar. The mass transfer efficiency calculated for a space transfer operation is 0.99. Steel ball bearings are used with gas fiber-reinforced teflon retainers to provide solid lubrication. These bearings have demonstrated the longest life in liquid helium endurance tests under simulated pumping conditions. Technology developed in the project also has application for liquid helium circulation in terrestrial facilities and for transfer of cryogenic rocket propellants in space.

• Research Organization: Creare, Inc., Hanover, NH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5549510
• Report Number(s): N-92-16319; NASA-CR--177595; A--92050; NAS--1.26:177595; CNN: NAS2-12950
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661210* -- Cryogenics-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BALL BEARINGS
BEARINGS
CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CRYOPUMPS
CRYOSTATS
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
LUBRICANTS
MASS TRANSFER
NONMETALS
PERFORMANCE
PUMPS
RARE GASES
REFRIGERANTS
ROCKETS
SATELLITES
SOLID LUBRICANTS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
THERMOSTATS
USES
VACUUM PUMPS
WORKING FLUIDS