Pump simulator with variable pressure flow characteristics permits ready experimental determination of optimum pump-load matching. It has been successfully used to investigate the effect of feed pump characteristics on the stability of a Rankine system boiler

Packe, D. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

November 1967	 Brief 67-10453 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Pump Simulator Provides Variable Pressure-Flow Characteristics 
A pump simulator with variable pressure now 
characteristics has been designed for use in experi-
mental testing. The simulator uses a "work horse" 
pump along with high response valving and controls 
to create a head-flow characteristic that may be 
varied from the control room during test operations. 
This pumping system permits convenient adjustment 
of the pump load combined operating point and 
makes possible the investigation of optimum pump 
load matching. It has been successfully used to in-
vestigate the effect of feed pump characteristics on 
the stability of a Rankine system boiler. 
The pump simulator consists of an electrohydraulic 
control mated with a work horse pump (or other 
source of pressurized flow). The control consists of: 
(1) Pressure and mass flow sensors mounted in the 
fluid flow line ahead of the system load, (2) these 
sensors feed into a control unit programmed for any 
desired dynamic curve of pressure-mass flow. The 
sensors' data and desired curve are compared and 
result in the output of a position signal feeding 
to: (3) a high response servo valve. The valve is con-
tinuously repositioned by these command signals. The 
combination permits examination of pump-load com-
bined operating point(s) in terms of system dynamic 
stability under variable pump characteristics. 
The significance of this development is that the 
pump simulator permits ready experimental determi-
nation of optimum pump-load matching. This then 
permits drawing pump specifications for a pump 
which will result in a dynamically stable pump fed 
system.
It also appears that the pump simulator could be 
used as a "special pump." That is, in certain appli-
cations, the simulator could be used in place of a 
special design pump. In effect, the pump simulator, 
by simple program change in the controller, could 
comprise a large family of special design pumps. 
Alternately, the pump simulator can provide a much 
more versatile dynamic characteristics range than can 
be achieved by any single pump. 
Notes: 
I. Possible applications for this pump simulator are 
in: (a) variable pressure-flow dynamics hydraulic 
systems; and (b) experimental determination of 
necessary pump characteristics to yield a dynami-
cally stable pump-load system. 
2. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Brookpark Road 
Cleveland, Ohio 44135 
Reference: B67-10453 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commer-
cial use of this invention may be made to NASA, 
Code GP, Washington, D. C. 20546. 
Source: Donald R. Packe
of Lewis Research Center
and Pratt and Whitney
under contract to
Lewis Research Center 
(LEW- 10122) 
Category 05 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Pump simulator provides variable pressure-flow characteristics

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