Characterization of micro-electrospray thruster with a porous glass emitter array
Characterization of micro-electrospray thruster with a porous glass emitter array
Micro-electrospray thrusters are a high-performancepropulsion option for nanosatellites, achieving a highspecific impulse within limited mass, volume andpower constraints. At the University of Southamptonwe are looking to develop a low cost electrospraythruster, using simple Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining techniques. Porous glassemitter arrays of 25 or 100 emitter tips were manufactured and characterized using a confocal laserscanner. The propellant was passively fed utilizingcapillary action. To mitigate electrochemical effectsand thus increase emitter lifetime, the thrusters wereoperated in bipolar mode, whilst distal electrodeswere used. The thrusters were tested in a vacuumchamber with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) system to characterize the plume. Results show that pure ionicemission can be achieved with a maximum specificimpulse higher than 7000 s. The calculated maximum thrust was 166 µN and 223 µN for a 25 emitterarray and the 100 emitter array, respectively. Thisstudy demonstrated an increased thrust output witha high specific impulse from a multiplexed emitter array manufactured through CNC machining.
Ma, Chengyu
c88fc9a9-0691-48fd-97a5-65cd5bd84127
Ryan, Charles
3627e47b-01b8-4ddb-b248-4243aad1f872
Ma, Chengyu
c88fc9a9-0691-48fd-97a5-65cd5bd84127
Ryan, Charles
3627e47b-01b8-4ddb-b248-4243aad1f872
Ma, Chengyu and Ryan, Charles
(2018)
Characterization of micro-electrospray thruster with a porous glass emitter array.
Space Propulsion 2018, Barcelo Renacimiento Hotel, Convention Center, Avenida Alvaro Alonso Barba, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092 Seville, Spain, Seville, Spain.
14 - 18 May 2018.
12 pp
.
(In Press)
Record type:
Conference or Workshop Item
(Paper)
Abstract
Micro-electrospray thrusters are a high-performancepropulsion option for nanosatellites, achieving a highspecific impulse within limited mass, volume andpower constraints. At the University of Southamptonwe are looking to develop a low cost electrospraythruster, using simple Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machining techniques. Porous glassemitter arrays of 25 or 100 emitter tips were manufactured and characterized using a confocal laserscanner. The propellant was passively fed utilizingcapillary action. To mitigate electrochemical effectsand thus increase emitter lifetime, the thrusters wereoperated in bipolar mode, whilst distal electrodeswere used. The thrusters were tested in a vacuumchamber with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) system to characterize the plume. Results show that pure ionicemission can be achieved with a maximum specificimpulse higher than 7000 s. The calculated maximum thrust was 166 µN and 223 µN for a 25 emitterarray and the 100 emitter array, respectively. Thisstudy demonstrated an increased thrust output witha high specific impulse from a multiplexed emitter array manufactured through CNC machining.
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 14 May 2018
Venue - Dates:
Space Propulsion 2018, Barcelo Renacimiento Hotel, Convention Center, Avenida Alvaro Alonso Barba, Isla de la Cartuja, 41092 Seville, Spain, Seville, Spain, 2018-05-14 - 2018-05-18
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 448647
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/448647
PURE UUID: 2037e4fc-8c10-4255-aefc-f82f401fc349
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Date deposited: 29 Apr 2021 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 12:08
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Author:
Chengyu Ma
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