An Experimental Study on Influence of Suction Path to Performance and Cavitation for Turbopump

Super-cavitating vehicle which is operating under water speeds up to 100m/s. In this process super-cavitation around body reduces frictional resistance. This paper introduces experimental study on different width of suction path as there is a warhead in the torpedo. Hydraulic performances of turbopump at non-cavitating condition does not display a significant differences depending on different width of suction path. However, cavitation performance of each model shows obvious differences in the same condition of experience. In case of radial inlet, the value of critical NPSH(which indicates 3% head drop) increases about 20% in comparison of axial inlet.