Starting and Regulating Characteristics of Electric Pump Feed System for LRE under Different Schemes

Abstract

Liquid rocket engines (LREs) are essential power sources for access to space. Electric pump feed systems have received noteworthy attention because of their high efficiency, convenient regulation, and simple structure. In this study, an oxidant feed system with two pumps in parallel was established. The centralized parameter method and the distributed parameter method were used for modeling. The dynamic characteristics of different starting schemes and regulating schemes were obtained. The results show that the asynchronous opening of two pumps led to a pressure peak from the second stage to the third stage. Under the low operating conditions, the pump speed of the asynchronous scheme was about 13,300 r/min, the pump speed of the synchronous scheme was about 12,100 r/min, and the pump speed of the joint adjustment scheme was about 24,800 r/min. The joint adjustment of pump speed and valve opening could increase the pump speed by a factor of one-third, while maintaining the efficiency at a high level. The optimal scheme could be selected according to a genetic algorithm-based calculation process, together with the curves of the flow rate and pressure with pump speed and valve opening. This study can contribute to the application of electric pumps for liquid rocket propulsion.