CFD-modeling of processes in a high-pressure oxidizer pump for the turbopump assembly of a liquid rocket engine

Abstract

The article presents CFD modeling of the work process in the oxidizer pump of a turbopump assemblyusing the ANSYS CFX software, as well as the comparison of numerical and theoretical calculations of theanalytical relations based on geometric data. Problems were encountered when modeling the flow of the pumpdue to inaccuracies in the drawing. The spherical radius in the area of the volute chamber throat had to bereduced, otherwise the model would not be topologically consistent with the original. The data on the vaneangles at the inlet and outlet of the centrifugal impeller were absent in the drawings. The blade angles weredetermined by the previously constructed geometric model. Negative pressure at the entrance of the impellervanes was found in the analysis of the first results of CFD-calculation. Increasing the number of elements in thispart of the calculation model made it possible to reduce the area of the negative pressure.CFD-modeling error with respect to the analytical solution does not exceed 11% by the parameters of total andstatic pressure. The results of the work can provide a visual representation of the processes taking place duringthe operation of the high-pressure pump of a turbopump assembly. The CFD-model can also be used for furtherresearch of work processes in liquid oxygen pumps to reduce the number of development tests.