The Application of Centrifugal Pumps to Liquid Oxygen Loading Systems for Missiles

摘要

The purpose of the reduced-scale tests described in this report was to provide data for the evaluation of the dynamics of liquid-oxygen pumping systems during transient conditions. The results are to be applied to the preparation of full-scale-pump tests. Two centrifugal pumps, each having a rated flow of 50 gpm at 125-130 ft of head, were installed in the liquid-oxygen test facility. Both pumps were driven by electric motors and were installed without insulation in the transfer line outside of the storage tank. Tests were made so that data could be obtained on the following subjects: (1) Priming time, (2) Comparison of pump transfer with pressured transfer, (3) Flow control, (4) Parallel operation, and (5) Net positive suction head. Enough head-capacity points were measured for a check to be made of the curves derived from water tests carried out by the manufacturers. The time required for the pump to become filled with saturated liquid from the instant the transfer line was opened could be predicted by calculations. The additional time required for the liquid to become subcooled enough so that the pump would prime was in some cases substantial and could not be predicted by calculations. It is possible to achieve with a pump transfer system the same performance given by a pressurized transfer system.