Design Optimization and Performance Analysis of High-Speed Turbopumps

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is the preliminary design optimization and performance analysis of non-cavitating centrifugal turbopumps using a 1D lumped-parameter method. Centrifugal pumps are critical components in many engineering applications due to their high efficiency in converting mechanical energy into fluid pressure. This study presents the development and validation of a computationally efficient model to design and predict the flow properties along different stations of a centrifugal pump. The methodology minimizes the reliance on expensive CFD simulations, making use of multiple design parameters to control the impeller, diffuser, volute, and exit cone configurations to ensure a robust and efficient performance.

A common challenge in turbopump design is the prediction and mitigation of cavitation, which occurs when the fluid static pressure falls below its vapor pressure. This leads to the formation and subsequent collapse of vapor bubbles, which can cause severe damage to pump components. Given the complex physics involved, this work makes use of reduced-order models to predict, and avoid cavitating regimes through design adjustments.

This thesis provides a comprehensive framework for optimizing the design of centrifugal turbopumps by integrating validated loss models and a reduced-order modeling approach. The proposed design methodology is applied to develop a centrifugal pump for the TU Delft ORCHID facility, demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness. This research contributes a practical modeling tool for centrifugal turbopump optimization and performance analysis.