Propellant Feed SystemPump Assemblyby Various (engine-specific)
Typical Specifications
Speed
5,000u201390,000 RPM depending on size
Power
500 kW to 55 MW
Discharge Pressure
5u201350 MPa
Operating Principle
A turbine converts thermal energy from gas generator exhaust, preburner output, or expander-cycle heated propellant into rotational energy, which drives centrifugal or axial pump impellers to pressurize propellants above combustion chamber pressure.
A turbopump is a rotary mechanical device that pressurizes and delivers propellants from low-pressure tanks to a high-pressure combustion chamber. It consists of a turbine driven by hot gas and one or more pump stages for fuel and oxidizer. Turbopumps are among the most critical and complex components in liquid rocket engines, operating at extreme speeds, temperatures, and pressures.
Materials
Used In Engines
Common Failure Modes
Bearing failure, seal leakage, turbine blade fatigue, cavitation, rotor instability, thermal cracking, rubbing/galling
Recent Innovations
Hydrostatic bearings (RS-25), electric pump drives (Rutherford), 3D-printed impellers, dual-shaft contra-rotating designs
Related Components
View on Wikipedia →⚙ RELATED ENGINES
