Effect of tube bend angle on liquid propulsion system priming event pressures

Experimental work was performed to measure the priming event pressure transient levels in unrestricted liquid propulsion system tubing. An existing water hammer experimental setup was utilized, where system tubing diameter, length, and bend angle were examined. Experiments were performed under both atmospheric and low-pressure pre-test element conditions to understand any impact of tube bend angle on the mitigation of priming event pressure transients inside the liquid system. Experimental results showed pressure levels were influenced by a combination of tube diameter, length, and pre-test pressures; however, tube bend angle had minimal to no discernible change on the average peak pressure levels or rise times to peak pressure for all conditions examined.