The particular properties of liquid cesium led ONERA scientists to store this propulsive element in a reservoir containing a highly retentive porous material in the form of sponge nickel developed by the Direction des Materiaux. Guaranteeing an impregnation level of approximately 80%, this method of storage using a porous nickel wick permits the extraction of the desired flow of cesium under weightless conditions by means of a vaporizer which requires a low heat supply. A highly vacuum-tight valve supporting temperatures up to 300 C is needed to isolate the vaporizer from the ionizer to which it is connected by a canalization assuring a positive temperature gradient. Impregnation and extraction tests using such a device have been successfully conducted even under the adverse effect of gravity, the flow of cesium vapour being adapted to the feed system of an experimental thruster. The movement of cesium in the heart of a nickel sponge gauge exhibiting a porosity gradient was observed by radiography
Supplying cesium to an ion thruster
Zufuhr von Caesium fuer ein Ionentriebwerk
Titel franzoesisch
Acta Electronica ; 17 , 4 ; 455-459
1974
, 3 Quellen
Article (Journal)
French
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