Assessment of the Plume Characteristics of a Miniaturized Pulsed Plasma Thurster

Download or read book Assessment of the Plume Characteristics of a Miniaturized Pulsed Plasma Thurster written by Richard Henry [Verfasser] Sypniewski Jr. and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pulsed Plasma Thrusters are one of the most simplistic constructions in the electric propulsion family and are categorized among the electromagnetic class of thrusters. This classification of electromagnetics deals with the underlying physics of the pulsed plasma thruster and is much more complex with less understanding then other electric propulsion systems. However, due to the mechanical simplicity, wide range of specific impulses, non-toxic propellant, and the numerous applications, these thrusters are an ideal candidate for integrating into CubeSats. CubeSats are nanosatellites that are designed in three typical standard sizes (1 Unit, 2 Unit, and 3 Unit), each with standardized footprints. The smallest volumetric dimensions are the 1 Unit CubeSat, which is 10 x 10 x 10 cm. The volume and mass of CubeSats are quite small and therefore the miniaturization of the Pulsed Plasma Thruster is necessary to adhere to these constraints. Current research has shown that when miniaturization of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster there is a tendency for the thruster to work and perform in the electrothermal regime rather than in the electromagnetic one. Understanding which regime the thruster is operating in is critical for understanding how to optimize the design. For example, a thruster operates with higher efficiencies in the electromagnetic regime because there is much less loss from Ohmic heating. Preliminary testing of the Micro-Pulsed Plasma Thruster design was performed by the research company called FOTEC and determined a thruster chamber design. To understand thoroughly the Micro-Pulsed Plasma Thruster, characterization of the thruster and its plume will be conducted experimentally. This characterization will determine parametric features such as current/voltage waveform, electron temperatures, electron densities, and exhaust velocities. Performing the initial characterizations will give insight into the Micro-Pulsed Plasma Thruster and will provide further understanding into the regime that the thruster is operating in. The characteristics that resulted from this thesis concluded that the Micro-Pulsed Plasma Thruster is operating in the electromagnetic regime. This was concluded based on several characteristic traits that only conclude for electromagnetic acceleration mechanisms. These were that the peak currents reached were approximately 5,000 A and the exhaust velocity was in the 50 km/sec range. Further information was measured and the total resistance and inductance was calculated to be 13 m and 24 nH. Details on this information and how it was calculated is discussed in this thesis.*****Pulsed Plasma Thrusters are one of the most simplistic constructions in the electric propulsion family and are categorized among the electromagnetic class of thrusters. This classification of electromagnetics deals with the underlying physics of the pulsed plasma thruster and is much more complex with less understanding then other electric propulsion systems. However, due to the mechanical simplicity, wide range of specific impulses, non-toxic propellant, and the numerous applications, these thrusters are an ideal candidate for integrating into CubeSats. CubeSats are nanosatellites that are designed in three typical standard sizes (1 Unit, 2 Unit, and 3 Unit), each with standardized footprints. The smallest volumetric dimensions are the 1 Unit CubeSat, which is 10 x 10 x 10 cm. The volume and mass of CubeSats are quite small and therefore the miniaturization of the Pulsed Plasma Thruster is necessary to adhere to these constraints. Current research has shown that when miniaturization of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster there is a tendency for the thruster to work and perform in the electrothermal regime rather than in the electromagnetic one. Understanding which regime the thruster is operating in is critical for understanding how to optimize the design. For example, a thruster operates with higher efficiencies in the electromagne