Development and performance evaluation of high speed cryogenic turboexpanders at BARC, India

Turboexpanders are a key focus area for Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, India in the program for development of helium refrigerators and liquefiers for intra departmental requirements. To start with, a turbine impeller with major diameter 16 mm and design speed of 264,000 RPM, suited for use in the 1st stage of a modified Claude cycle/reverse Brayton cycle based standard helium liquefier/refrigerator, is developed. Later on, a second series of turboexpander with the same major diameter (16 mm) and design speed of 260,000 RPM is developed with "splitter" blades at the major diameter end. Yet another turboexpander series, size 16.5 mm and design speed 168,000 RPM, is also developed suited for use in the 2nd stage of a standard helium liquefier/refrigerator. The present article describes these turboexpander development efforts at BARC, including results obtained during field trials with the BARC helium refrigerator and liquefier.