Overview of the experimental setup for the visualization of a cryogenic pump

Abstract

An experimental setup for the visualization of a cryogenic pump, which is to investigate the relationship between the flowfield in a pump and the thermodynamic effect of a cavitation, was constructed. The experimental setup with the cryogenic pump is a closed loop and is consisted of a tank, a suction pipe, a visualization section, a test pump and a flow mater. There are two visualization sections in this system. One is the visualization section for the pump impeller cavitation using liquid nitrogen and this section is established on the pump casing. Another is the visualization section for the blade cavitation using liquid nitrogen and this section is inserted in the pump suction side. These sections are set up individually for the object of the visualization. From pilot study using this visualization system with the cryogenic pump, it was shown that the subcooled liquid nitrogen could be generated by this system and this liquid nitrogen could be circulated in this pump system with the visualization section. And it was indicated that various visualization experiments of the cavitating pump and blade using the subcooled liquid nitrogen can be conducted by using the developed setup.