An electric propulsion thrust stand capable of supporting thrusters with total mass of up to 125 kg and 1 mN to 1 N thrust levels has been developed and tested. The mechanical design features a conventional hanging pendulum arm attached to a balance mechanism that transforms horizontal motion into amplified vertical motion, with accommodation for variable displacement sensitivity. Unlike conventional hanging pendulum thrust stands, the deflection is independent of the length of the pendulum arm, and no reference structure is required at the end of the pendulum. Displacement is measured using a non-contact, optical linear gap displacement transducer. Mechanical oscillations are attenuated using a passive, eddy current damper. An on-board microprocessor-based level control system, which includes a two axis accelerometer and two linear-displacement stepper motors, continuously maintains the level of the balance mechanism - counteracting mechanical %era drift during thruster testing. A thermal control system, which includes heat exchange panels, thermocouples, and a programmable recirculating water chiller, continuously adjusts to varying thermal loads to maintain the balance mechanism temperature, to counteract thermal drifts. An in-situ calibration rig allows for steady state calibration both prior to and during thruster testing. Thrust measurements were carried out on a well-characterized 1 kW Hall thruster; the thrust stand was shown to produce repeatable results consistent with previously published performance data.


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    Titel :

    Thrust Stand for Electric Propulsion Performance Evaluation


    Beteiligte:
    T. E. Markusic (Autor:in) / J. E. Jones (Autor:in) / M. D. Cox (Autor:in)

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    2004


    Format / Umfang :

    10 pages


    Medientyp :

    Report


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch




    Thrust Stand for Electric Propulsion Performance Evaluation

    Markusic, T. E. / Jones, J. E. / Cox, M. D. | NTRS | 2004


    Thrust Stand for Electric Propulsion Performance Evaluation

    Markusic, Thomas / Jones, Jonathon / Cox, M. | AIAA | 2004



    Pulsed Electric Propulsion Thrust Stand Calibration Method

    Wong, Andrea R. / Polzin, Kurt A. / Pearson, J. Boise | NTRS | 2011


    Pulsed Electric Propulsion Thrust Stand Calibration Method

    A. R. Wong / A. Polzin / J. Boise Pearson | NTIS | 2011