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Development of electrostrictive force-feeding sub-system for liquid pulsed plasma thrusters

Development of electrostrictive force-feeding sub-system for liquid pulsed plasma thrusters
Development of electrostrictive force-feeding sub-system for liquid pulsed plasma thrusters
An electrostatically driven pressure valve has been successfully developed based on the electrostrictive force, delivering propellant to the discharge chamber via an open-end conduit, free of any moving parts. The proof-of-concept unit has been built and demonstrated stable operation. It was shown that the conventional theory of electrostriction in liquid dielectrics is applicable for the device. The electrostatic pump has been designed for a coaxial liquid-fed micro pulsed plasma thruster prototype operating in the 1 - 2 J energy range. Active mass dosage capability is proven as a function of applied voltage and pump operational time, introducing a new class of electronically controlled feeding systems. Experimental measurements demonstrate a minimum achievable mass bit ranging from 77 to 164 ug using the voltage-controlled operation. Moreover, the pump is able to deliver up to 1 mg of propellant for a single shot. In addition to the active control, the mass flow rate can be passively adjusted by changing the capillary dimensions (radius and length), conduit material and the propellant dielectric properties.
Electrostriction, PFPE, Feeding Unit, Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT)
Dobranszki, Cristian
82fe7440-1617-4258-8260-04a1df727924
Golosnoy, Igor O.
40603f91-7488-49ea-830f-24dd930573d1
Gabriel, Stephen
ac76976d-74fd-40a0-808d-c9f68a38f259
Gessini, Paolo
85d676ff-05b5-4b3d-97d5-a2a5af976af1
Dobranszki, Cristian
82fe7440-1617-4258-8260-04a1df727924
Golosnoy, Igor O.
40603f91-7488-49ea-830f-24dd930573d1
Gabriel, Stephen
ac76976d-74fd-40a0-808d-c9f68a38f259
Gessini, Paolo
85d676ff-05b5-4b3d-97d5-a2a5af976af1

Dobranszki, Cristian, Golosnoy, Igor O., Gabriel, Stephen and Gessini, Paolo (2019) Development of electrostrictive force-feeding sub-system for liquid pulsed plasma thrusters. 36th International Electric Propulsion Conference: IEPC, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 15 - 20 Sep 2019. 11 pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

An electrostatically driven pressure valve has been successfully developed based on the electrostrictive force, delivering propellant to the discharge chamber via an open-end conduit, free of any moving parts. The proof-of-concept unit has been built and demonstrated stable operation. It was shown that the conventional theory of electrostriction in liquid dielectrics is applicable for the device. The electrostatic pump has been designed for a coaxial liquid-fed micro pulsed plasma thruster prototype operating in the 1 - 2 J energy range. Active mass dosage capability is proven as a function of applied voltage and pump operational time, introducing a new class of electronically controlled feeding systems. Experimental measurements demonstrate a minimum achievable mass bit ranging from 77 to 164 ug using the voltage-controlled operation. Moreover, the pump is able to deliver up to 1 mg of propellant for a single shot. In addition to the active control, the mass flow rate can be passively adjusted by changing the capillary dimensions (radius and length), conduit material and the propellant dielectric properties.

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IEPC-2019-931 - Version of Record
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More information

Published date: 1 October 2019
Venue - Dates: 36th International Electric Propulsion Conference: IEPC, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 2019-09-15 - 2019-09-20
Keywords: Electrostriction, PFPE, Feeding Unit, Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT)

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 434716
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/434716
PURE UUID: 20d4066b-aa4b-49f6-a15f-d7c5ddd89eb6
ORCID for Cristian Dobranszki: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9045-4334

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 07 Oct 2019 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:27

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Contributors

Author: Cristian Dobranszki ORCID iD
Author: Igor O. Golosnoy
Author: Stephen Gabriel
Author: Paolo Gessini

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