Hyun-Duck Kwak

Floating ring seals are widely used as a leakage control solution for turbomachines because they effectively operate with small clearances between the shaft and seal. The oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf liquid engine in the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II) operates at high rotational speeds and under cryogenic conditions and has floating ring seals in the bearing cooling path to reduce leakages. In this study, we evaluated the frictional force acting on the nose of the floating ring in the oxidizer pump of the 7 tonf turbopump using numerical analysis, and we investigated the radial force on the floating ring induced by the vibration of the rotor and the flow characteristics around the floating ring seal. Through a comparison of the frictional and floating forces according to the change in the diameter of the floating ring noses, we also estimated the dynamic positioning of the floating ring. In addition, we examined the leakage of the floating ring seals with the rotational speed and gap size of the floating ring, and we used the results as data for designing a floating ring seal. Finally, we performed turbopump real-propellant tests with the floating ring seal of the high and the middle noses, finding that the test result was in good agreement with the results of numerical analysis.

Electric pump system is new technology for next generation propulsion unit. The system has simple structure which dose not need gas generator, injector and turbine and might better pump for low cost and low payload rocket. Therefore, this paper suggests conceptual design of electric-pump Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) which has 50 kW & 50,000 RPM for rocket. To satisfy the system's requirement, electromagnetic analysis is conducted for suitable inner and outer diameter of stator and rotor which uses 4000 Gauss cylinder magnet and Inconel 718 can to fix whole rotor. Futhermore, to confirm rotational vibration, rotordynamics analysis is conducted. By this analysis, Campbell diagram is printed. From the diagram, natural frequency could be determined for the only motor and dynamo meter test bench.