High-power plasma thrusters that utilize molten metallic propellants (e.g., the Lithium Lorentz Force Accelerator) are currently being investigated as a primary propulsion option for in-space nuclear-electric systems. A critical component of the thruster is the propellant feed system, which must reliably and accurately pump liquid metal into the thruster discharge chamber. We present design details and calibration results for a compact liquid metal propellant feed system that contains no moving parts, for use in laboratory testing of plasma thrusters. Feed line pressure is maintained using an MHD flow coupler, and the flow rate is monitored using a simple voltage divider, which is submerged in the propellant reservoir. Results for lithium and gallium propellants show capability to meter propellant at flow rates up to 10 +/- 0.1 mg/s.


    Zugriff

    Zugriff über TIB

    Verfügbarkeit in meiner Bibliothek prüfen


    Exportieren, teilen und zitieren



    Titel :

    Liquid Metal Propellant Feed System for Plasma Propulsion


    Beteiligte:

    Kongress:

    40th AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference ; 2004 ; Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States


    Erscheinungsdatum :

    01.01.2004


    Medientyp :

    Aufsatz (Konferenz)


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch


    Schlagwörter :





    Propellant Feed Subsystem for the X-34 Main Propulsion System

    McDonald, J. P. / Minor, R. B. / Knight, K. C. et al. | NTRS | 1998


    Propellant Feed Subsystem for the X-34 Main Propulsion System

    McDonald, J. P. / Minor, R. B. / Knight, K. C. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998