Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger receives turbine exhaust gases after driving the turbopumps. Coils in the heat exchanger heat and expand oxygen and helium to pressurize the LOX and fuel tanks, respectively. After passing through the heat exchanger's coils, these gases enter the turbine exhaust manifold and are distributed around the periphery of the engine's exit plane and into the nozzle extension.

The heat exchanger was oriented such that the forward end (which would be connected to the turbine) was down toward the floor.

There were actually two heat exchangers sitting in the corner of the lab. One had all of its protective covers installed, while the other one was open and presumably the one from the F-1 engine which had been disassembled.

As with other components which had been subject to any sort of combustion products, it was black with soot. I had to increase my camera's exposure in order to bring out the details, but this gave the heat exchanger's interior a lighter grey, rather than soot-black, appearance.

The heat exchanger is a tall component, and I had to hold the camera up and "shoot blind" in order to get the interior photos.