TY - GEN
T1 - Development of meso and micro scale liquid propellant thrusters
AU - Yetter, R. A.
AU - Yang, V.
AU - Wang, Z.
AU - Wang, Y.
AU - Milius, D.
AU - Peluse, M.
AU - Aksay, Ilhan A.
AU - Angioletti, M.
AU - Dryer, F. L.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - This paper reports on the design, fabrication and testing of liquid-propellant chemical microthrusters for propulsion of small and micro-spacecraft. The propellant formulations include energetic oxidizers (hydrazinium nitroformate, ammonium dinitramide, and hydroxylammonium nitrate), alcohol fuels, and water as the liquid carrier and electrical conductor. Asymmetric whirl combustion has been studied in combustion chamber volumes ranging from approximately 10 to 170 mm3 with gaseous fuel (H2, CH4, and C3H8) - air mixtures as a means to stabilize the reaction and minimize heat losses in the microthruster. Based on these vortex flow combustor studies, microthrusters have been designed and fabricated from aluminum oxide using ceramic stereolithography. The microthrusters have throat diameters ranging from approximately 300 - 700 μm, an exidthroat area ratio of approximately 2, and a combustion chamber volume of approximately 60 mm3. Initial hot frre tests have been conducted with H2-air mixtures to enable preliminary thermal structure analysis, diagnostics testing and model development. In separate tests, electrolytic ignition techniques have been investigated for initiation of the liquid propellants.
AB - This paper reports on the design, fabrication and testing of liquid-propellant chemical microthrusters for propulsion of small and micro-spacecraft. The propellant formulations include energetic oxidizers (hydrazinium nitroformate, ammonium dinitramide, and hydroxylammonium nitrate), alcohol fuels, and water as the liquid carrier and electrical conductor. Asymmetric whirl combustion has been studied in combustion chamber volumes ranging from approximately 10 to 170 mm3 with gaseous fuel (H2, CH4, and C3H8) - air mixtures as a means to stabilize the reaction and minimize heat losses in the microthruster. Based on these vortex flow combustor studies, microthrusters have been designed and fabricated from aluminum oxide using ceramic stereolithography. The microthrusters have throat diameters ranging from approximately 300 - 700 μm, an exidthroat area ratio of approximately 2, and a combustion chamber volume of approximately 60 mm3. Initial hot frre tests have been conducted with H2-air mixtures to enable preliminary thermal structure analysis, diagnostics testing and model development. In separate tests, electrolytic ignition techniques have been investigated for initiation of the liquid propellants.
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M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:2942736916
SN - 9781624100994
T3 - 41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
BT - 41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit
T2 - 41st Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit 2003
Y2 - 6 January 2003 through 9 January 2003
ER -