1. 2.

4 Estimating the inlet conditions We have to care for the following factors which contribute together in creating the inlet suction condition for each of the tow pumps: The initial pressurization of the tanks. The initial elevation of the liquid above the pump centre line. Friction losses in the suction pipe. Assuming that the tow tanks are pressurized to 2 bars, then: The absolute pressure inside the tank will become 3.01325 bars. The effect of the liquid elevation will be neglected because the elevation is continuously decreasing as the liquid is consumed and also the vehicle will immediately be inclined after firing. The friction losses in the suction pipes can also be neglected if the tanks are arranged in such a manner to reduce the lengths of the suction pipes. Consider the Kerosene pump: The suction head available at inlet to the pump (Hs) = 3.01325E5/9.8800 = 38.43 m. Vapor pressure (pv) of Kerosene (at 313K) = 7.6mmHg = 1.01325E-2bar The equivalent vapor head (Hv ) = 0.129m. Net positive suction head above vapor pressure (NPSH) = 38.43 0.129 = 38.301m. It is suggested to avoid cavitation by assuming a required net positive suction head (NPSHR) equals 80% of the available head, therefore, NPSHR = 0.838.43 = 30.744m. Nitric acid pump: The head available at inlet to the pump = 3.01325E5/9.81520 =20.22 m. Vapor pressure (pv) of RFNA (at 313K) = 0.186mmHg = 0.00025 bar. The equivalent head (Hv ) = 0.00166 m. ANPSH = 20.22 0.00166 = 20.218 m. Also it is suggested to avoid cavitation by assuming a required net positive suction head (NPSHR) equals 80% of the available head, therefore, NPSHR = 0.820.22 = 16.175 m.

The working conditions of the tow pumps are summarized in table 1.9 below: Delivery head (Hd), m. Suction head (Hs) , m. Pump head (H) , m. Required suction head(Hs)R , m. Vapor head (Hv) at 313K, m. Suction head above vapor pressure (NPSH) , m. Required suction head above vapor pressure (NPSHR)a , m. Volumetric flow rate(Q), m3/sec. Kerosene pump 1118 38.43 1079.57 30.744 0.129 38.3 30.615 0.0125 Nitric acid pump 599.5 20.22 579.28 16.175 0.00166 20.218 16.173 0.0217

Table 1.9 Working conditions of the fuel and oxidizer pumps. 2.5 Configuration selection Firstly, we have to estimate a suitable shaft speed based on the suction conditions available at each pump inlet. Equation 1.26 below represents a practical formula which relates the shaft speed (N) to the lowest required suction pressure above vapor pressure of the liquid being pumped. It is derived in reference (6) for pumps employed in rocket engines. (Ps)L = pv + go10-3 (NQ)4/3 (a) -4/3 1.26

Where: (Ps)L is a lower permitted limit of suction pressure without cavitation. pv and Q as defined before in S I units. go is the specific weight. N is the speed in revolutions per second. a is a constant having a value lying between 13 and 17 (6). Equation 1.26 can be rewritten as: (NPSHR) = Hv + 10-3 (NQ)4/3 (a) -4/3 Or: Nmax = a Q -0.5 ((NSHR - Hv )/10 )3/4 1.27a 1.27b

Or: Nmax = a Q -0.5 ((NPSHR )a /10 )3/4

1.27c

Where (NPSHR )a is the required net positive suction head above vapor pressure. Equation 1.27 can be used in estimating the maximum shaft speed Nmax for a fixed suction pressure. 2.5.1 The kerosene pump By substituting data of kerosene pump (table 1.9) in equation 1.27 and assuming an average value of the constant a = 15, we have: Nmax = 15 0.0125 -0.5 (30.615 /10 )3/4 = 310.5 rev/ sec. = 18631 rpm.

To fix the configuration of the pumping element, substitute data of the pump in equation 1.7: s = (23.14 18631/60)0.0125 / (9.81079)0.75 = 0.21 Figure 1.10(7) emphasizes that for a specific speed of 0.21 the pumping element is of the radial flow type, specifically, a centrifugal element. Therefore, for the kerosene pump we are going to deal with a centrifugal pump running at 18631 rpm. Moreover, by equation 1.5, the suction specific speed ss can be estimated as: ss = 1961(0.0125)0.5 (9.830.7) -0.75 = 3 This is a reasonable value since for centrifugal pumps Nss lies between 3 and 4.5 approximately. (7) 2.5.2 The Nitric acid pump By substituting data of Nitric acid pump (table 1.9) in equation 1.27 and assuming an average value of the constant a = 15, we have: Nmax = 15 0.0217 -0.5 (16.173 /10 )3/4 = 146 rev/ sec. = 8760 rpm.

To fix the configuration of the pumping element, substitute data of the pump in equation 1.7: s = (23.14 8760/60)0.0217 / (9.8579.3)0.75 = 0.207 Again figure 1.10(7) emphasizes that for a specific speed of 0.207 the pumping element is a centrifugal rotor running at 8760 rpm. By equation 1.5, the suction specific speed ss can be estimated as: ss = 917(0.0217)0.5 (9.816.17) -0.75 = 3 Also 3 is a reasonable value for the suction specific speed ss.