Are turbopumps lubricated? The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are In Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Why are rocket engines operating above 100% often considered nominal?Why are Rocket engines at the base of the rocket?What are the maintenance benefits of SABRE engine technology for SSTO launchers?How reliable are pressure fed hypergolic engines?What are the sizes and locations of Progress's thrusters?What's the Isp of a model rocket “D-size” engine, compared to the Isp of engines that do reach space?How large is a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster? Are there any upcoming programs using it?How are Voyager's 16 thrusters oriented?What are some notable cold gas thruster propellants, and why?What are the 'lights' inside Shuttle main engines at landing?
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Are turbopumps lubricated?
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are In
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)Why are rocket engines operating above 100% often considered nominal?Why are Rocket engines at the base of the rocket?What are the maintenance benefits of SABRE engine technology for SSTO launchers?How reliable are pressure fed hypergolic engines?What are the sizes and locations of Progress's thrusters?What's the Isp of a model rocket “D-size” engine, compared to the Isp of engines that do reach space?How large is a magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster? Are there any upcoming programs using it?How are Voyager's 16 thrusters oriented?What are some notable cold gas thruster propellants, and why?What are the 'lights' inside Shuttle main engines at landing?
$begingroup$
It is easy to find data about rocket engine propellant, but quite difficult to ind information about other fluids used in rocket engine. For engine using a turbopump, this pump turns at quite high speed. Such a piece of mechanic should require lubrication in order to work for more than few seconds.
My question is: in engine using turbopumps (RD-107, RS-25, Vulcain,...) how are the turbopump and other moving parts lubricated? What kind of lubricant is used and how is it distributed to moving parts?
engines
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It is easy to find data about rocket engine propellant, but quite difficult to ind information about other fluids used in rocket engine. For engine using a turbopump, this pump turns at quite high speed. Such a piece of mechanic should require lubrication in order to work for more than few seconds.
My question is: in engine using turbopumps (RD-107, RS-25, Vulcain,...) how are the turbopump and other moving parts lubricated? What kind of lubricant is used and how is it distributed to moving parts?
engines
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
The fluid pumped may be used as lubricant too. A hyrdrocarbon lubricant could not be used for a liquid oxygen pump.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Yep, using the working fluid as the lubricant is pretty common.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
2 days ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It is easy to find data about rocket engine propellant, but quite difficult to ind information about other fluids used in rocket engine. For engine using a turbopump, this pump turns at quite high speed. Such a piece of mechanic should require lubrication in order to work for more than few seconds.
My question is: in engine using turbopumps (RD-107, RS-25, Vulcain,...) how are the turbopump and other moving parts lubricated? What kind of lubricant is used and how is it distributed to moving parts?
engines
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
$endgroup$
It is easy to find data about rocket engine propellant, but quite difficult to ind information about other fluids used in rocket engine. For engine using a turbopump, this pump turns at quite high speed. Such a piece of mechanic should require lubrication in order to work for more than few seconds.
My question is: in engine using turbopumps (RD-107, RS-25, Vulcain,...) how are the turbopump and other moving parts lubricated? What kind of lubricant is used and how is it distributed to moving parts?
engines
engines
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
edited 2 days ago
called2voyage♦
17k772129
17k772129
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
asked 2 days ago
Manu HManu H
882622
882622
1
$begingroup$
The fluid pumped may be used as lubricant too. A hyrdrocarbon lubricant could not be used for a liquid oxygen pump.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Yep, using the working fluid as the lubricant is pretty common.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
The fluid pumped may be used as lubricant too. A hyrdrocarbon lubricant could not be used for a liquid oxygen pump.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Yep, using the working fluid as the lubricant is pretty common.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
2 days ago
1
1
$begingroup$
The fluid pumped may be used as lubricant too. A hyrdrocarbon lubricant could not be used for a liquid oxygen pump.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
2 days ago
$begingroup$
The fluid pumped may be used as lubricant too. A hyrdrocarbon lubricant could not be used for a liquid oxygen pump.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Yep, using the working fluid as the lubricant is pretty common.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Yep, using the working fluid as the lubricant is pretty common.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
2 days ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
The bearings in the SSME (RS-25) had/have no conventional lubrication as such. They were cooled by minute flows of their respective propellants.
Knowing that the bearings have no lubrication except from a minute
transfer film of the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) from the cages to
the balls, several attempts at improving the lubrication and lowering
the heat generation in the bearings was investigated.
Source: History of Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Bearing Testing at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Also
HPOTP bearings deteriorate quickly for many reasons. The balls wear
the fastest of all the bearing components and, in the process, lose
their preload. Liquid oxygen is their only lubricant and a poor one
at that.
From here
(HPOTP is High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump)
You can see the coolant passage in this cutaway drawing of the Low Pressure Fuel Turbopump from here.
Also see here for more on the High Pressure Fuel Turbopump and here for the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump.
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
1
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
The bearings in the SSME (RS-25) had/have no conventional lubrication as such. They were cooled by minute flows of their respective propellants.
Knowing that the bearings have no lubrication except from a minute
transfer film of the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) from the cages to
the balls, several attempts at improving the lubrication and lowering
the heat generation in the bearings was investigated.
Source: History of Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Bearing Testing at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Also
HPOTP bearings deteriorate quickly for many reasons. The balls wear
the fastest of all the bearing components and, in the process, lose
their preload. Liquid oxygen is their only lubricant and a poor one
at that.
From here
(HPOTP is High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump)
You can see the coolant passage in this cutaway drawing of the Low Pressure Fuel Turbopump from here.
Also see here for more on the High Pressure Fuel Turbopump and here for the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump.
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
1
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The bearings in the SSME (RS-25) had/have no conventional lubrication as such. They were cooled by minute flows of their respective propellants.
Knowing that the bearings have no lubrication except from a minute
transfer film of the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) from the cages to
the balls, several attempts at improving the lubrication and lowering
the heat generation in the bearings was investigated.
Source: History of Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Bearing Testing at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Also
HPOTP bearings deteriorate quickly for many reasons. The balls wear
the fastest of all the bearing components and, in the process, lose
their preload. Liquid oxygen is their only lubricant and a poor one
at that.
From here
(HPOTP is High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump)
You can see the coolant passage in this cutaway drawing of the Low Pressure Fuel Turbopump from here.
Also see here for more on the High Pressure Fuel Turbopump and here for the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump.
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
1
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The bearings in the SSME (RS-25) had/have no conventional lubrication as such. They were cooled by minute flows of their respective propellants.
Knowing that the bearings have no lubrication except from a minute
transfer film of the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) from the cages to
the balls, several attempts at improving the lubrication and lowering
the heat generation in the bearings was investigated.
Source: History of Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Bearing Testing at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Also
HPOTP bearings deteriorate quickly for many reasons. The balls wear
the fastest of all the bearing components and, in the process, lose
their preload. Liquid oxygen is their only lubricant and a poor one
at that.
From here
(HPOTP is High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump)
You can see the coolant passage in this cutaway drawing of the Low Pressure Fuel Turbopump from here.
Also see here for more on the High Pressure Fuel Turbopump and here for the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump.
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
$endgroup$
The bearings in the SSME (RS-25) had/have no conventional lubrication as such. They were cooled by minute flows of their respective propellants.
Knowing that the bearings have no lubrication except from a minute
transfer film of the Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) from the cages to
the balls, several attempts at improving the lubrication and lowering
the heat generation in the bearings was investigated.
Source: History of Space Shuttle Main Engine Turbopump Bearing Testing at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Also
HPOTP bearings deteriorate quickly for many reasons. The balls wear
the fastest of all the bearing components and, in the process, lose
their preload. Liquid oxygen is their only lubricant and a poor one
at that.
From here
(HPOTP is High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump)
You can see the coolant passage in this cutaway drawing of the Low Pressure Fuel Turbopump from here.
Also see here for more on the High Pressure Fuel Turbopump and here for the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump.
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
answered 2 days ago
Organic MarbleOrganic Marble
60k3165256
60k3165256
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
1
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
1
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Polytetrafluoroethylene is a plastic material, not a propellant. Unless they're burning plastic as fuel?
$endgroup$
– immibis
2 days ago
1
1
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
$begingroup$
I am not sure what point you are trying to make. The quoted document is just saying that some of the PTFE is transferred from the bearing cages to the ball bearing and that this is the only substance actually acting as a lubricant. The bearings are cooled by propellant flow, oxygen for the oxygen pumps and hydrogen for the hydrogen pumps.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
2 days ago
add a comment |
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1
$begingroup$
The fluid pumped may be used as lubricant too. A hyrdrocarbon lubricant could not be used for a liquid oxygen pump.
$endgroup$
– Uwe
2 days ago
$begingroup$
Yep, using the working fluid as the lubricant is pretty common.
$endgroup$
– Russell Borogove
2 days ago