TiTEC

Novel Application of the lightweight titanium alloy Ti-5Al-2.5Sn to turbopump LASER-AM process and materials engineering that allows cross-sectoral use of titanium to hydrogen-based sectors. The alloy Ti-5Al-2.5Sn has potential to be one of the few titanium alloys capable of surviving hydrogen embrittlement, depending on its microstructure. It’s also an excellent candidate for additive manufacturing, a clean manufacturing process currently revolutionizing the launch industry. The goal of the project was to additively manufacture a functional turbopump part using the unique titanium alloy, which would enable not just hydrogen pumps for rocket engines, but cyrogenic pumps in other sectors, such as clean energy and aviation.Over the course of the project, we developed a high-performing cryogenic rocket pump. Pangea Aerospace ran Computational Fluid Dynamic and Finite Element Analysis simulation to verify the design’s performance, successfully. Critical sections, samples, and the final inducer geometry were printed by Aenium, and the microstructure and print quality was analysed by Diondo. Challenges in the supply chain meant delays, but initial results are promising. More iterations are needed to qualify the printing process and microstructure. As of writing, the additively manufactured samples are currently being tested for hydrogen resistance. If they show acceptable resistance, then the technology will be one step closer to being verified for it’s cross-sectoral application!