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Precise calibration of propellant flow and forces in specialized electric propulsion test system
Citation
Lim, M. J. W., Huang, S., Sun, Y. F., Xu, L., Zhen, R. W. S., Yee, J. S.,…Xu, S. (2018). Precise calibration of propellant flow and forces in specialized electric propulsion test system. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 46(2), 338-344. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1109/TPS.2017.2783954
Author
Lim, Mark Jian Wei
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Huang, Shiyong
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Sun, Yufei
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Lu, Luxiang
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Sim, Roysmond Zhen Wei
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Yee, Jen Siong
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Zhang, Zhonglin
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Levchenko, Igor
•
Abstract
Precise readout values for propellant flow rates obtained from mass flow controllers are vital for derivation of accurate and reliable figures that are indicative of thruster performance, such as the specific impulse and thruster effi-ciency. This is exceptionally important in thrusters employed for micro-propulsion for orbit maintenance and drag compen-sation in small satellites, where a small uncertainty and devia-tion in propellant flow would lead to large errors in derived values. Therefore, it is crucial for researchers engaged in pro-pulsion-based research to ensure that their gas flow controllers are calibrated and verified experimentally to be accurate be-fore engaging in thorough experimental work. In this work, an experimental method for the practical calibration of propellant feed systems in typical Hall thruster setups is tested. Results yield reliable calibration factors that have been applied for performance correction of miniature Hall thrusters. The cor-rected propellant flows correlate well with obtained ionization oscillation waveforms, indicating that the presented method for calibration is favorable and dependable for application to ground test facilities for thrust performance qualification.
Date Issued
2018
DOI
10.1109/TPS.2017.2783954
Description
This is the final draft, after peer-review, of a manuscript published in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. The published version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2017.2783954