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ISSN Online: 2688-7231

ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-524-0

Proceedings of the 26thNational and 4th International ISHMT-ASTFE Heat and Mass Transfer Conference December 17-20, 2021, IIT Madras, Chennai-600036, Tamil Nadu, India
December, 17-20, 2021, IIT Madras, Chennai, India

Experimental Study of Lift-off Dynamic Seal for LOX-Kerosene Engine

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHMTC-2021.2010
pages 1331-1335

Abstract

A LOX-kerosene engine working on oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle (ORSCC) is under development at Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO. The engine employs a turbopump with both liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene pumps mounted in an inline configuration with a common turbine. Due to handling of incompatible fluids across the turbopump, a comprehensive sealing system is employed to ensure safe operation of the turbopump. As part of the present paper, the development aspects of the most prominent seal is discussed. This seal ensures leak tightness during the static phase of the turbopump and "lifts-off" and becomes non operational once pump builds up speed. During initial simulated cold flow tests performed with water in a dynamic test rig, lift-off mechanism was successfully demonstrated at the normal operating conditions. However, at the 60% throttled operating condition, lift-off was found to be inadequate. A detailed study was performed and several corrective measures were considered to enhance lift-off. Optimization of plunger diameters was found to be the most suitable method. Based on the same, modifications were implemented and was successfully demonstrated and found to be inline with the theoretical results.