Liquid Upper Stage Demonstrator Engine (LUMEN): Component Test Results and Project Progress

Paper number

IAC-22,C4,1,3,x73654

Author

Mr. Tobias Traudt, Germany, DLR (German Aerospace Center)

Year

2022

Abstract

With the LUMEN (Liquid upper stage demonstrator engine) project, DLR is aiming to develop, build and operate a breadboard engine based on an expander bleed cycle scheme. The propellants for LUMEN will be liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquid natural gas (LNG). LUMEN will be a modular breadboard engine to be used on the DLR P8.3 test facility. The modular approach will make it easy to take the engine of the test bench, exchange components and go testing again. This way the demonstrator will provide a test bed for future component development. The cycle will feature two turbopumps in order to simplify the turbopump design, while on the same time allowing more freedom for an exchange of components. By this approach the DLR will create a test bed for component research on engine level, open to any industrial or institutional partner.
After tests with a calorimetric combustor to obtain the heat load distribution by the combustion of LOX and LNG the design of the LUMEN thrust chamber assembly (TCA) was finished and is about to be tested. These tests will determine the turbines drive power, which is a crucial step since LUMEN is an expander bleed cycle engine and hence it relies solely on the heat pickup in the TCA cooling channels. 
In parallel to the combustor tests a turbopump test campaign with the OTP was performed with water on the pump side and pressurized nitrogen on the turbine side. The campaign has been completed successfully and the operational envelope of the OTP has been confirmed. After that a cryogenic test campaign took place at the DLR test bench P8.3. The OTP was installed in the same configuration as in the engine tests of LUMEN and it was run for the first time in cryogenic fluids. This way the pump performance with LOX and the thermal design of the turbopump were verified. The operation procedures in cryogenic environment were tested and refined. The next and final step in turbopump development will be cryogenic tests of the FTP.
When the combustor and turbopump tests are completed, final assembly of LUMEN will start with first tests on engine level expected to take place in 2023.

Abstract document

IAC-22,C4,1,3,x73654.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-22,C4,1,3,x73654.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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