Paper
Development of a Pistonless Rocket Engine Pump Suborbital Flight Test Demonstrator
Published Jul 28, 2014 · R. Starkey, M. Cannella, J. Brendel
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Abstract
The Pistonless Pump Technology Demonstrator is a NASA funded project that aims to demonstrate pistonless pump technology for both launch vehicle and in-space applications. Pistonless pumps are a desirable fluid pump alternative for these vehicles because they feature a simpler design that induces higher reliability. Operating on pneumatic principles, a pistonless pump system features multiple small pumping chambers that draw fluid from a reservoir tank utilizing a pressurant gas. The fluid is then pressurized and ejected at a steady rate by cycling between the pumping chambers. While several ground tests have been completed on pistonless pump technology, comprehensive space environment testing is scheduled to increase the technology readiness level of this design. Through cooperation between academia, industry, and NASA, a pistonless pump experimental test bed is being developed for experimentation in a relevant operational environment. The NASA Flight Opportunities Program has manifested the payload on the first commercial flight of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo sub-orbital reusable launch vehicle for in-space testing. The experiment features a small pistonless pump system, with saturated water at ambient temperature and approximately 3.5 kPa as the working fluid (cryogenic simulant). Initial ground tests have shown that this configuration is feasible. Development is expected to continue through 2014, and the payload itself will be in a flight-ready state before the beginning of sRLV operating flights in 2014.
The Pistonless Pump Technology Demonstrator project aims to demonstrate pistonless pump technology for launch vehicle and in-space applications, with a focus on launch vehicle applications.
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