Picture shows tubo-pump debris from impact site. LOX manifold clearly seen (3 in 1 outlet pipes, upper center of image - the one to its right, 2 o'clock position, and left, 11 o'clock position are both broken off).The LOX flow electric control valve is also well displayed in this image (LOX valve head is slightly low and left of center, part nearest camera). The electrical connection to the LOX valve has broken away leaving its empty socket pointing upwards and to the right.
Thank you for providing a facinating article. I never knew about these pumps before in my 76 years on this planet. I worked as a pump engineer for a large UK pump company. They developed a high speed glandless turbine driven water lubricated boiler feed pump running at 6.5k rpm for naval use and power generation. There are similarities. KSB was always a competitor and produced some very novel and reliable equipment. My question is: can you advise the steam and pump discharge pressures produced please? Also, was impeller cavitation present due to lack of suction head or NPSH? I presume erosion damage to the impeller inlet blades due to cavitation would not be an issue if the pump only ran for a few minutes and would probably seize up once it ran dry. Cavitation could however affect pump performance – pressure and flow.I look forward to hearing from you.