A field of feeding propellant gas to ion thrusters, and in particular a method of feeding an ion thruster with propellant gas coming from a pressurized tank via a feed circuit including an on/off valve and, in succession downstream from the on/off valve, a high pressure restrictor, a buffer tank, and at least one low pressure restrictor. The method includes the steps of calculating a pressure setpoint for the buffer tank as a function of a flow rate setpoint, calculating the difference between the pressure setpoint for the buffer tank and a pressure measured in the buffer tank, calculating a setpoint for the opening time of the on/off valve as a function of the difference and of a pressure inside the pressurized tank, and opening the on/off valve in compliance with the opening time setpoint.


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    Title :

    Propellant gas supply for an ionic propulsion unit


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2020-07-21


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    F03H PRODUCING A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR , Erzeugung von Vortriebskraft [Schub] nach dem Prinzip des Rückstoßes, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen / B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen



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