Download or read book Experimental Characterization of Steady State Applied Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster SX3 written by Joan Albert [Verfasser] Miralles Pascual and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The apparatus for experimental research on AF-MPD at the Institute of Space Systems has been improved and characterized. In the process, significant changes have been done with respect previous experimental campaigns with regard to safety, long term operation and accuracy. These modifications include a refurbishment of the electric and water circuits inside and outside the tank as well as preventing arc attachment points. Once the setup was assembled, it needed to be characterized in order to assess what are the sources of disturbances for the evaluation of electromagnetic thrust. This was done in one long experimental campaign in which the gas dynamic thrust was measured, the external magnetic field was mapped downstream the thruster and the dynamics of the thrust balance was studied. It was found that the dynamic expansion of the gas might generate a subtle thrust component that increases with the mass flow rate through the cathode. The map of the magnetic field was compared with numerical simulations from a FEMM model, showing good agreement. Moreover, a device to simulate the arc discharge current on the thruster was designed, but could not be put into operation due to time constraints. During preliminary ignition tests, the SX3 was operated at a power level of 19.6 kW in steady state regime and a magnetic field intensity up to 140 mT. This experiment revealed instabilities in the arc discharge at low current levels. The analysis of the data, together with the characterization of the setup, lead to the development of a measurement procedure that aims to determine the thrust generated by the SX3. The work done in this thesis opens the door for an extensive experimental campaign in which the performance of the thruster SX3 can be comprehensively assessed and described.*****The apparatus for experimental research on AF-MPD at the Institute of Space Systems has been improved and characterized. In the process, significant changes have been done with respect previous experimental campaigns with regard to safety, long term operation and accuracy. These modifications include a refurbishment of the electric and water circuits inside and outside the tank as well as preventing arc attachment points. Once the setup was assembled, it needed to be characterized in order to assess what are the sources of disturbances for the evaluation of electromagnetic thrust. This was done in one long experimental campaign in which the gas dynamic thrust was measured, the external magnetic field was mapped downstream the thruster and the dynamics of the thrust balance was studied. It was found that the dynamic expansion of the gas might generate a subtle thrust component that increases with the mass flow rate through the cathode. The map of the magnetic field was compared with numerical simulations from a FEMM model, showing good agreement. Moreover, a device to simulate the arc discharge current on the thruster was designed, but could not be put into operation due to time constraints. During preliminary ignition tests, the SX3 was operated at a power level of 19.6 kW in steady state regime and a magnetic field intensity up to 140 mT. This experiment revealed instabilities in the arc discharge at low current levels. The analysis of the data, together with the characterization of the setup, lead to the development of a measurement procedure that aims to determine the thrust generated by the SX3. The work done in this thesis opens the door for an extensive experimental campaign in which the performance of the thruster SX3 can be comprehensively assessed and described.

Download or read book Characterization and Improvement of Thrust Balance Measurement Technique for SX3 Applied Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster written by Akash Mankar and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Steady state applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster promises good compromise between thrust density and specific impulse, making them relevant for interplanetary missions requiring high thrusts. The IRS 100 kW gas-fed steady-state AF-MPD SX3 thruster has shown promising results in previous held test campaigns. Experimental results in those campaigns showed non-linear behavior of tare forces, resulting in respective error in the thrust measurement and this error then propagates in further calculation of Isp, thrust efficiency, etc. This motivated improvement in the thrust balance and measurement technique. Various error sources in the thrust measurement technique were identified and solutions to mitigate them were presented. A number of changes in the thrust balance were made in order to improve the measurement technique and data quality. The effectiveness of improvements had been experimentally characterized and presented. Previously the thrust measurement technique featured manual control of the measurement setup which led to complex and inconsistent test procedures. A new programmable electronic control unit was specifically designed for more consistent and automated measurement and calibration procedure. Potential error sources of the measurement chain have been systematically identified, characterized and discussed. The analysis tool for thrust characterization was redesigned which gives fine control of the interval selection and data export, this ensured accurate thrust and calibration calculations. The new code is more modular to adapt for changes and is very flexible with user interaction reducing complexity while still retaining the functionality. To further improve the measurements accuracy some suggestions are made.

Download or read book Experimental Characterization of Contoured Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters written by D. J. Heimerdinger and published by . This book was released on 1988 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Second Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Workshop written by and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Experimental Investigation of Steady State High Power MPD Thrusters written by Thomas Wegmann and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Experimental Characterization of Surface Integrated Electroaerodynamic Thrusters written by Kieran Leif Strobel and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 34 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Electroaerodynamic propulsion is a type of electric propulsion system for aerial vehicles that is potentially nearly silent. Following the first flight test of a demonstrator vehicle using this technology an area identified for improving the vehicle's performance was drag reduction of the thrusters. A proposed method for achieving this is integrating the thrusters into the surface of the vehicle to reduce the number of external bodies in freestream flow and in turn reduce drag. This thesis presents work done to experimentally characterize this specific thruster architecture and quantify how the performance of the proposed system changes with different surface materials, thruster geometries, and input voltages. Non-dimensional parameters were developed and used to guide the analysis and experimental design. From these parameters, a non-dimensional performance parameter measuring the trade-off between thrust and thrust per unit power was developed. During the experimental work this parameter was varied against a non-dimensional voltage resulting in linear relationships for both non-surface integrated and surface integrated thrusters, suggesting this parameter is important for characterizing future thruster architectures. Additional experiments found increases in the inception voltage, up to 15 kV, for surface integrated thrusters in comparison to the previous generation thruster with the same gap spacing suggesting surface charge build up modifies the electric field between the electrodes. Increasing the distance between the emitter and material surface did not reduce this effect implying this dimension does not influence the inception voltage over the range tested.

Download or read book The Effects of Magnetic Nozzle Configurations on Plasma Thrusters written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Experimental Investigation of a 1 4 scale Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Without and with Applied Magnetic Nozzle Fields written by Charles Matthew Zakrzwski and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster Research written by S. T. Nelson and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This program is a follow-on study to a 3-year feasibility investigation of lithium propellant in a steady state electric plasma thruster for eventual use in space propulsion. During the earlier program, accelerator development was largely empirical. The present research is aimed at obtaining a detailed knowledge of the mechanisms in the accelerator, and using this information to design and then test engines operating near their optimum capability. The ALPHA thruster evolved from a large body of practical experience with MPD arc jets and from analytical studies, the results of which have correlated well with experimental measurements. The basic engine mechanism is the electrostatic acceleration of ions through trapped electrons by means of the interaction between applied and induced fields and azimuthal Hall currents. ALPHA differs from most other MPD thrusters in its extended magnetic field, its use of anode-fed lithium as propellant, its use of a buffer, and its replacement of conventional insulators by a device called an isolator. In its most advanced configuration, designated RC-1, the ALPHA thruster is completely radiation cooled. (Author).

Download or read book written by and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration written by National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine and published by . This book was released on 2021-11-12 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Space Nuclear Propulsion for Human Mars Exploration identifies primary technical and programmatic challenges, merits, and risks for developing and demonstrating space nuclear propulsion technologies of interest to future exploration missions. This report presents key milestones and a top-level development and demonstration roadmap for performance nuclear thermal propulsion and nuclear electric propulsion systems and identifies missions that could be enabled by successful development of each technology.

Download or read book Advanced Space Propulsion Systems written by Martin Tajmar and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-09-08 with total page 139 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Space propulsion systems have a great influence on our ability to travel to other planets or how cheap a satellite can provide TV programs. This book provides an up-to-date overview of all kinds of propulsion systems ranging from classical rocket technology, nuclear propulsion to electric propulsion systems, and further to micro-, propellantless and even breakthrough propulsion, which is a new program under development at NASA. The author shows the limitations of the present concepts and how they could look like in the future. Starting from historical developments, the reader is taken on a journey showing the amazing technology that has been put on hold for decades to be rediscovered in the near future for questions like how we can even reach other stars within a human lifetime. The author is actively involved in advanced propulsion research and contributes with his own experience to many of the presented topics. The book is written for anyone who is interested in how space travel can be revolutionized.

Download or read book Future Spacecraft Propulsion Systems written by Paul A. Czysz and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2006-09-19 with total page 488 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An understandable perspective on the types of space propulsion systems necessary to enable low-cost space flights to Earth orbit and to the Moon and the future developments necessary for exploration of the solar system and beyond to the stars.

Download or read book Performance Evaluation of the SPT 140 written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization written by and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Commission was directed to assess the organization and management of space activities in support of U.S. national security.

Download or read book Lunar Trajectories written by Richard J. Weber and published by . This book was released on 1961 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Critical Review of Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion 1984 1993 written by Mohamed S. El-Genk and published by American Institute of Physics. This book was released on 1994 with total page 488 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Market: Researchers in nuclear power, physicists, chemical and nuclear engineers, students, and policy makers. The papers in this volume summarize key technological advancements that occurred during the ten years from 1984 to 1993 in such areas as heat pipe technology, fuels, space nuclear safety, dynamic power conversion systems, and advanced radiator technologies for spacecraft power systems. In light of new industry initiatives to form a consortia and the possibility of bi-modal space nuclear power and propulsion systems, this informative volume will be an invaluable reference source.