A Study on Using the Additive Manufacturing Process for the Development of a Closed Pump Impeller for Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop Systems
Open accessAbstract
The efficiency of a centrifugal pump for mechanical pump fluid loops, apart from the design, relies on the performance of the closed impeller which is linked to the manufacturing process in terms of dimensional accuracy and the surface quality. Therefore, the activities of this paper were focused on defining the manufacturing process of a closed impeller using the additive manufacturing technology for mechanically pumped fluid loop (MPFL) systems in space applications. Different building orientations were studied to fabricate three closed impellers using selective laser melting technology and were subjected to dimensional accuracy and surface quality evaluations in order to identify the optimal building orientation. The material used for the closed impeller is Inconel 625. The results showed that both geometrical stability and roughness were improved as the building orientation increased, however, the blade thickness presented small deviations, close to imposed values. Finishing processes for inaccessible areas presented significant results in terms of roughness, nevertheless, the process can be further improved. Abrasive flow machining (AFM) post-processing operations have been considered and the results show major improvements in surface quality. Thus, important steps were made towards the development of complex structural components, consequently increasing the technological readiness level of the additive manufacturing process for space applications.
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The DMLS/SLM process has demonstrated the ability to produce impellers with excellent dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and material strength, as shown in prints made from 17-4 PH, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 625, and Inconel 718.
“The DMLS/SLM process, in particular, has demonstrated the ability to produce impellers with excellent dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and material strength, as shown in prints made from materials such as 17-4 PH, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 625, and Inconel 718 [66][67][68].”
From Towards Sustainability in Hydraulic Machinery Manufacturing by 3D Printing (2024) · cites this paper as [66]
The Results (sections 3.1 and 3.2) report dimensional accuracy for SLM-printed Inconel 625 impellers and improved surface roughness after post-processing. The paper does not demonstrate material strength for those impellers or the claimed combination of properties across all four alloys: its Introduction discusses Ti-6Al-4V specimens and mentions an Inconel 718 impeller made elsewhere, while the cited passages do not address 17-4 PH. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPost-processing operations show improvements in surface quality through Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM).
“Regarding post-processing operations, results show improvements in surface quality through Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM) [66].”
From Towards Sustainability in Hydraulic Machinery Manufacturing by 3D Printing (2024) · cites this paper as [66]
The DMLS/SLM method offers performance comparable to that of forged materials.
“This method offers performance comparable to that of forged materials.”
From Towards Sustainability in Hydraulic Machinery Manufacturing by 3D Printing (2024) · cites this paper as [66]
The Design Considerations section (no page number available) says the study compares SLM with conventional methods for manufacturing time and geometrical accuracy, not performance against forged materials. Searches for “forged” and comparable mechanical performance found no passage making that comparison. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Cites
Spacecraft Thermal Control Handbook, Volume I: Fundamental Technologies
Gilmore, D. (2002) · doi:10.2514/4.989117 · Cited by 352 · see citing works
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Towards Sustainability in Hydraulic Machinery Manufacturing by 3D Printing
Remache, A., Pérez-Sánchez, M., Hidalgo, V. H., Ramos, H. M., & Sánchez-Romero, F.-J. (2024) · Processes · doi:10.3390/pr12122664 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Carbon Fiber Polymer Reinforced 3D Printed Composites for Centrifugal Pump Impeller Manufacturing
Mansour, G., Papageorgiou, V., & Tzetzis, D. (2024) · Technologies · doi:10.3390/technologies12040048 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
- Authors
- Adiaconitei, A., Vintila, I. S., Mihalache, R., Paraschiv, A., Frigioescu, T., Vladut, M., & Pambaguian, L.
- Affiliations
- Romanian Research and Development Institute for Gas Turbines (RO)
- Satellites and Space Equipment Department, Romanian Research and Development Institute for Gas Turbines (COMOTI), 061126 Bucharest, Romania
- Quality Control Technology Department, Romanian Research and Development Institute for Gas Turbines (COMOTI), 061126 Bucharest, Romania
- European Space Agency (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Adiaconitei, Alexandra
- ORCID
- Venue
- Materials
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-02-18
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 967
- ISSN
- 1996-1944 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7922401
- OpenAlex
- W3131598053
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 1.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Materials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- European Space Agency (4000129552/19/NL/AR/ig)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Manufacturing Process and Optimization
- Keywords
- closed impeller, centrifugal pump, additive manufacturing, laser powder bed fusion, building orientation, dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, Inconel 625, abrasive flow machining, post-processing, space applications
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