LUMEN Turbopump - Design and Manufacturing of the LUMEN LOX and LNG Turbopump components

Abstract

In the LUMEN project (liquid upper stage demonstrator engine) an expander bleed engine will be built at the DLR to allow component research on engine level. The LUMEN engine will feature two dedicated turbopumps, one for LOX and one for LNG. The turbopumps design is modular to develop sophisticated turbopump components in a representative engine cycle. In this work we will give an overview over the status of the development. The turbopumps critical design has been finished and is ready for manufacture. To finalize the pump design, CFD simulations of the LNG pump impeller have been improved from previous work by incorporating losses due to the pump sealings and the flow between rotor and housing.1) The rotor dynamics analysis for the LOX and the LNG turbopump will be discussed. The design considerations will be presented which ensure operation below the first critical speed for both turbopumps. Finally, we will give an update on the status of the Cryogenic Sealing and Bearing Test Bench (CSBT) and the modular turbopump test bench (MTB), which are in construction for the validation of the turbopump design.