Studies on interior flow field and performance in mixed-flow thruster

The performance of a mixed-flow pump stage in thruster and its interior flow field are studied by using numerical and experimental methods. Calculated region is from the inlet of pump stage to the outlet of thruster, which includes impeller, stator and spout. The region is cut apart by structure grid; governing equations are solved by NUMECA software. The parameters in flow fields are calculated by the method of time-marching scheme. The performance of flow rate-lift and flow rate-efficiency of pump stage are predicted according to the computational results, and external characteristics of pump stage are measured. Calculated results are preferably consistent with the experimental data. It shows that this calculation method has higher creditability and computational accuracy. Furthermore, the performance of pump stage is analyzed based on the computational result, and technical measures for improving pump stage are put forward.