Re: Space X
I've watched a few videos on Youtube about how rocket engines work - if you have some time to waste it's jolly interesting.
Pumping cryogenic fuel isn't trivial. Liquid oxygen boils at minus 183C, and liquid methane at minus 161C. So the pumps have to be made from exotic alloys to withstand these low temperatures. Then they have to pump litres per second of these liquids into the combustion chamber.
To power the pumps small amounts of fuel is combusted. So at the other end of the pump shaft is a high temperature turbine. I'm jolly glad I don't have to design the bearings for that environment.
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