This paper presents the initial development and characterization of a novel micropropulsion system for nanosatellite applications: a liquid-fed pulsed plasma thruster (LF-PPT) comprising a Lorentz-force pulsed plasma accelerator (PPA) and a low-energy surface flashover (LESF) igniter. In this work, LESF was demonstrated as a sufficient means of igniting the primary discharge in a 3    μ F / 2    kV PPA operating with a pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxane ( C 33 H 34 O 2 Si 3 ) dielectric liquid propellant, and initial characterization of the propulsion system parameters was performed. PPA current pulse durations of about 16    μ s with peaks of 7.42 ± 0.1    kA were observed, and plasma jet exhaust velocity was measured at 32 ± 4    km / s using a time-of-flight technique via a set of double probes located along the jet’s path. Intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) photography was concurrently leveraged to visualize plasma dynamics and confirm successful operation in the LESF ignition regime. A peak thrust and impulse bit of 5.8 ± 0.7    N and 35 ± 4.4    μ N s , respectively, were estimated using large-area Langmuir probe measurements of total ion flux produced by the thruster. This paper additionally exhibits successful operation of the LF-PPT with the hydroxylammonium-nitrate-based propellant AF-M315e. The results of this paper suggest the befitting of LESF igniters in LF-PPTs, and the compatibility of LF-PPTs with the green propellant AF-M315e.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff prüfen

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen

    Bestellung bei Subito €


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Liquid-Fed Pulsed Plasma Thruster with Low-Energy Surface Flashover Igniter for Propelling Nanosatellites


    Beteiligte:
    Patel, Adam R. (Autor:in) / Zhang, Yunping (Autor:in) / Shashurin, Alexey (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2020-04-16


    Format / Umfang :

    6 pages




    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)


    Format :

    Elektronische Ressource


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    Liquid-fed pulsed plasma thruster for propelling nanosatellites

    SHASHURIN ALEXEY / ZHANG YUNPING / PATEL ADAM | Europäisches Patentamt | 2023

    Freier Zugriff

    LIQUID-FED PULSED PLASMA THRUSTER FOR PROPELLING NANOSATELLITES

    SHASHURIN ALEXEY / ZHANG YUNPING / PATEL ADAM | Europäisches Patentamt | 2020

    Freier Zugriff

    SULFUR-FUELED SURFACE ARC THRUSTER FOR PROPELLING NANOSATELLITES

    Shimhanda, Senior / Hiraka, Kotaro / Inoue, Taro et al. | TIBKAT | 2021


    SULFUR-FUELED SURFACE ARC THRUSTER FOR PROPELLING NANOSATELLITES

    Shimhanda, Senior / Hiraka, Kotaro / Inoue, Taro et al. | TIBKAT | 2021


    Endurance testing of a pulsed plasma thruster for nanosatellites

    Krejci, David / Seifert, Bernhard / Scharlemann, Carsten | Elsevier | 2013