Abstract
The turbopump inducer cavitation is very important for the success of a liquid rocket engine. In this study, the performance test and cavitation performance test were carried out at various rotational speeds with two inducers of different diameter. The rotational speed was varied by 4000, 6000, and 8000 rpm, and the size effect was tested for the normal inducer and twice-enlarged one. The hydraulic performance results showed that the similarity was satisfied over the entire test range of the present study. The blade thickness effect was examined and showed that the increased blade thickness resulted in decreased efficiency and worse cavitation performance for the large tip clearance. The cavitation performance test results showed that the breakdown NPSH increased as the flow coefficient, and was not affected by the rotational speed.