Pumping Hydrazine with a Turbopump

Abstract : Feasibility studies of pumping hydrazine with a turbopump are reported. The results show that vapor lock, cavitation, and dead ending can be tolerated with hydrazine. Careful attention must be paid to the temperature rise which results from dead ending or flow stoppage due to vapor lock, however the rise in the case of the pump tested was gradual enough to allow corrective action by an observer. Materials chosen for construction of impeller, housing, seals, and shaft stood up well under a wide range of conditions of operation for a total running time of 55 minutes and 33 seconds.