Experimental research on the resistojet thruster heater

• Autorzy: Kindracki J. , Mężyk J. , Paszkiewicz P.

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.1515/aoter-2018-0018

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The paper describes experimental research on a resistojet type rocket thruster which was built as an actuator in the Attitude Control System of a model space robotic platform. A key element of the thruster is the heater responsible for increasing the temperature of the working medium in the thruster chamber and hence the specific impulse. This parameter describes the performance of the thruster, increases providing – for lower propellant consumption – the same propulsion effect (thrust). A high performance thruster means either total launch mass can be reduced or satellite lifetime increased, which are key commercial factors. During the first phase of the project, 7 different heating chamber designs were examined. The heater is made of resistive wire with resistivity of 9Ω/m. Power is delivered by a dedicated supply system based on supercapacitors with output voltage regulated in the range of 20–70 V. The experimental phase was followed by designing the chamber geometry and the heating element able to deliver both: maximum increase of gas temperature and minimum construction dimensions. Experiments with the optimal design show an increase in temperature of the working gas (air) by about 300 °C giving a 40% increase in specific impulse. The final effect of that is a 40% reduction in mass flow rate while retaining thrust at a nominal level of 1 N.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

resistojet thruster; electric heater; heat transfer

PL

grzałka elektryczna; transport ciepła

• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Instytutu Maszyn Przepływowych PAN ; Komitet Termodynamiki i Spalania PAN
• Czasopismo: Archives of Thermodynamics
• Rocznik: 2018
• Tom: Vol. 39, no 3
• Strony: 29--43
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 14 poz., rys., tab.

Twórcy

autor

Kindracki J.

• Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Heat Engineering, Nowowiejska 21/25, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland

autor

Mężyk J.

• Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Heat Engineering, Nowowiejska 21/25, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland

autor

Paszkiewicz P.

• Warsaw University of Technology, Institute of Heat Engineering, Nowowiejska 21/25, 00-665 Warsaw, Poland

Bibliografia

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Uwagi

EN

This research was conducted in the framework of the Applied Research Program project, financed by the National Centre for Research and Development, Poland PBS3/A3/22/2015.

PL

Opracowanie rekordu w ramach umowy 509/P-DUN/2018 ze środków MNiSW przeznaczonych na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (2018).