A4 / V2 Rocket in detail: Turbopump

The A4 / V2 rocket turbopump: part 1. (See Part 2 here    • A4 / V2 Rocket in detail: Turbopump Part 2  ). If the V2 rocket could be said to have a beating heart, it would undoubtedly be the 500-horsepower steam turbine-powered twin propellant pump system.

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(see part 2 here    • A4 / V2 Rocket in detail: Turbopump Part 2  ).

Starting in 1935, the project to develop the V2 turbopump was one of a handful of key technologies that made the ballistic missile a viable possibility. Even today, the turbopump remains a key technology that enables liquid-fuelled rocket engines to develop the thrust needed to reach orbit.

In this comprehensive video, we look at the steam turbine-powered propellant pumps of the infamous V2 rocket - the world's first ballistic missile and the first human-made object to enter the realm of space beyond 100km (62 miles) altitude.
The video looks initially at the general form of the steam turbine and two independent centrifugal pumps and the location of the pump assembly on the missile before moving on to a detailed look at an original V2 turbopump on display in Peenemünde - the place of its birth. Along the way, we answer the question: why do some rockets need a turbopump?
We look at the German army's history of the turbopump and the vital role played by civilian contractors, not just in the manufacturing supply of the propellant pumping system - but in its development as well.
The video looks at the Helmut Walter steam generator - the system that supplied the energetic stream of super-heated steam to the turbine wheel to power the twin pumps and deliver over 8 tons of fuel and liquid oxygen to the thrust chamber in a little over a minute! The simple and powerful monopropellant chemistry used by the steam generator also comes in for close scrutiny with a detailed and safe, test of the method used (safe, but not without mishap and humour). With a detailed explanation of the unique two-stage launch system that relied on the turbopump for its success. We find out what can be learnt from historical turbopump relics found at impact sites and research facilities. See Turbopump Part 2:    • A4 / V2 Rocket in detail: Turbopump Part 2   (Want to help us make more videos like this? See our Patreon link below.)

00:00 Start
01:11 Introduction to the turbopump parts and its location on the missile
12:55 The turbopump presentation at the Peenemünde Historical-Technical Museum.
23:40 Why do we need a turbopump?
34:04 Contractors and turbopump development
42:39 The Walter steam generation plant
(Erratum: please note we spelt Walter's name wrong in the video).
46:00 The chemistry used to generate the steam
55:22 Introducing the Mack Sennett School for Missile Research
1:06:46 How the steam generator works
1:12:44 Turbopump and launch sequence
1:18:12 The Steam rotor
1:26:27 A look at historical relics of the turbopump
1:48:47 What's in part 2, followed by closing credits

In part two of this video we'll be looking at some of the less well-known aspects of the turbopump; exploring the steam exhaust system, the gyroscopic phenomena associated with the turbopump and the surprising logic behind the turbopumps safety cut-off system.

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Although Turbopump Part 2 was three years in the making, very little of that time was spent in front of a camera. Most of the time and effort was spent in research and you see the culmination in the hour-and-three-quarter video presented here.

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