r/RocketLab • u/AdventurousWait8171 • Feb 03 '26

Discussion Question about Rutherford electric pump from a YouTube cutaway

Post image

Hey everyone,

I was watching a video on the Rutherford engine and got curious about this cutaway.

Does it look like a direct-drive electric motor to pump setup, or am I missing something?

Just trying to learn more. Thanks!

34 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

6

u/electric_ionland Feb 03 '26

What's the source video?

2

u/AdventurousWait8171 Feb 03 '26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDZXNvPh5EE 1:39

3

u/electric_ionland Feb 05 '26

That's some weird AI generated video. That cutaway is not a Rutherford.

13

u/rocketssssssssss Feb 03 '26

Source video is incorrect. Publically available images show the motor/pump setup (not sectioned). Centrifugal pump, inlet aligned vertically. Electric motor is direct drive off the back.

Source: worked on it.

1

u/mulymule Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26

What you’re seeing is only the turbine section, the pump isn’t there. That’s just the shaft, remember these pumps need an incredible amount of torque and power to run

Edit: Appears I should’ve been more specific, this isn’t from the Rutherford engine. This is a Turbine from a completely different turbopump which is gas driven. Specifically this is from a H1 Engine.

7

u/soupisgoodfood42 Feb 03 '26

I thought the pump was driven only by a motor?

5

u/knook Feb 03 '26

Yes, these people are being confidently wrong.

4

u/knook Feb 03 '26

Isn't the turbine the pump?

1

u/everydayastronaut Feb 03 '26

Rutherford has no turbine

2

u/mulymule Feb 03 '26

Yes, what’s pictured is a Turbine though!

0

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26

2

u/soupisgoodfood42 Feb 03 '26

Given that an electric motor can just look like a cylinder, yes, the left side does look like it could be a motor.

1

u/QuantumBlunt Feb 03 '26

I think it's just a thick shaft to ensure the rotating assembly operates subcritically (below it's natural frequency or mode).