Advances on the Inductive Plasma Thruster Design for an Atmosphere-Breathing EP System
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hdl:2117/132439
Tipus de documentText en actes de congrés
Data publicació2018
EditorInternational Astronautical Federation
Condicions d'accésAccés obert
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Abstract
Challenging space mission scenarios include those in very low Earth orbits, where the atmosphere creates significant
drag to the S/C and forces their orbit to an early decay. For drag compensation, propulsion systems are needed, requiring propellant to be carried on-board. An atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion system (ABEP) ingests the residual atmosphere through an intake and uses it as propellant for an electric thruster. Theoretically applicable to any planet with atmosphere, the system might allow drag compensation for an unlimited time without carrying propellant.
A new range of altitudes for continuous operation would become accessible, enabling new scientific missions while reducing the required effort for the launcher by achieving these low orbits. Preliminary studies have shown that the collectible propellant flow for an ion thruster in low Earth orbit (LEO) might not be enough, and that electrode erosion due to aggressive gases, such as atomic oxygen, will limit the thruster’s lifetime. In this paper we present the advances
on the design of an inductive plasma thruster (IPT) for the ABEP. The IPT is based on a small-scale inductively heated plasma generator IPG6-S. IPG have the advantage of being electrodeless, and have already shown high electric-tothermal coupling efficiencies using O2 and CO2 as propellant. IPG6-S requires a scaling of the discharge channel to meet with power requirement and expected collected mass flows, as well as optimisation of the accelerating stage, to provide the required thrust to the spacecraft. Tests have been performed to verify some of the parameters and are as well presented within this paper.
CitacióRomano, F. [et al.]. Advances on the Inductive Plasma Thruster Design for an Atmosphere-Breathing EP System. A: International Astronautical Congress. "69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2018): Bremen, Germany 1-5 October 2018". International Astronautical Federation, 2018, p. 10686-10691.
ISBN978-1-5108-8165-5
Versió de l'editorhttps://iafastro.directory/iac/archive/browse/IAC-18/
Col·leccions
- Departament de Física - Ponències/Comunicacions de congressos [673]
- Departament d'Enginyeria de Projectes i de la Construcció - Ponències/Comunicacions de congressos [166]
- L'AIRE - Laboratori Aeronàutic i Industrial de Recerca i Estudis - Ponències/Comunicacions de congressos [51]
- TUAREG - Turbulence and Aerodynamics in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Research Group - Ponències/Comunicacions de congressos [74]
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2018_IAC_paper_Romano_DISCOVERER1539349750.pdf | 1,201Mb | Visualitza/Obre |