Development of a low pressure free molecular micro-resistojet for cubesat applications

D. Cordeiro Guerrieri, M. de Athayde Costa e Silva, BTC Zandbergen, A Cervone

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volumeConference contributionScientificpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper presents the development status at Delft University of Technology of a low-pressure micro-resistojet based on a sublimating solid propellant. In this particular type of electro-thermal thruster the propellant is water, stored as a solid and operated at very low pressure, under sublimation conditions. The steam is then expelled at high Knudsen numbers, through microchannels. The particle velocity is increased in the microchannels not by geometrical expansion as in conventional thermal propulsion concepts, but by thermal energy of the walls, transferred to the particles through collisions. The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo numerical simulations presented in the paper show that it is theoretically possible to achieve a specific impulse of 63.7 s up to 110.7 s with a plenum pressure of 50 to 300 Pa and a microchannel wall temperature of up to 900 K. A model of the tank was also designed and simulated using, in this case, the COMSOL Multiphysics 4.4 software. The sublimation is controlled inside the tank according to the mass flow needed by the plenum to keep the thermodynamic state required. These designs and simulations are based on DelFFi mission requirements and, in particular, the need to perform a basic formation flying demonstration. Additionally, the results show that by controlling the heater chip temperature, the tank temperature and the mass flow rate one can easily control the thrust and specific impulse allowing an optimal correlation between them. This opens the way to a better understanding of the operational principle of this concept and to its possible use in future demonstration missions.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the IAF 66th international astronautical congress, IAC2015
EditorsI Patel, S Ramirez
Place of PublicationParis
PublisherIAF
Pages1-10
Number of pages10
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventIAF 66th international astronautical congress, IAC2015, Jerusalem, Israel - Paris
Duration: 12 Oct 201516 Oct 2015

Publication series

Name
PublisherIAF

Conference

ConferenceIAF 66th international astronautical congress, IAC2015, Jerusalem, Israel
Period12/10/1516/10/15

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