When designing a feed system for modern main rocket engine development, designers have to pay special attention to energy efficiency of units and their reliability. One of the most important conditions of reliability is to provide non-cavitation operation of the main turbo-pump, which is impossible without using the booster turbo-pumps, considering the current levels of pressure in the combustion chamber. Thanks to high suction properties and processability, axial inducers with screw geometry became the most widely used in booster turbo-pumps. At the same time, the flow in the inducers of progressive geometry has complex spatial nature that makes their designing and detailed flow studying to be a difficult task.

Based on the need of detailed understanding the flow structure in inducer channels a number of investigation methods are considered, including: analytical calculation, visual research methods, direct flow measurement, and numerical simulation. Analysis of the characteristics of each method shows the need to combine several methods to achieve the best results. Using a numerical simulation becomes the most effective strategy to obtain a wide range of data and confirm their authenticity by experimental measurements at characteristic points. The features of such kind of measurements in the inducer flow and measuring device requirements are considered.

Based on this, an original design experimental booster turbo-pump, equipped with a pressure measuring system behind the inducer and automatic unloader device simulator is developed. Using these systems a radial pressure diagram of inducer flow as well as axial the force acting on the inducer can be experimentally obtained. It is shown that the offered measuring system satisfies those requirements and provides data at the various operation modes of the booster turbopump unit. A developed test program allows us to obtain required data: the pressure values in the flow behind inducer and axial force on it at different modes, as well as to estimate the influence of lopsided turbine fluid drain into the main stream behind inducer. Subsequently, the experimental data will enable us to verify the simulation results and, if necessary, adjust the initial conditions.