Performance of pulsed plasma thrusters with a non-volatile liquid propellant stored in porous ceramics with different pore diameters. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Song; Wu, Zhiwen; Huang, Tiankun; Hou, Weijie; Fu, Hao; Ling, William Yeong Liang
• Is Part Of: Vacuum. Volume 205(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Pulsed plasma thrusters -- Perfluoropolyether -- Porous ceramics -- Pore diameter -- Performance; Vacuum -- Periodicals; 621.55
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2022.111448
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-207X

Abstract

Abstract: Pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) typically have characteristics like a high specific impulse, a small volume, a low system mass when used in microsatellites. However, the lifetime of these thrusters is limited by their disadvantages, which include carbon deposition. A non-volatile liquid perfluoropolyether showed a good capability of lower carbon deposition in previous studies, but previous investigations focused on carbon deposition. The influence of the pore diameter of porous ceramics, which can change the supply rate, has not yet been studied. Perfluoropolyether, which is impregnated into the porous ceramics with different pore diameters (10 nm, 100 nm, 1 μm), was investigated in this study. A decreasing pore diameter of porous ceramics resulted in a lower resupply rate to reduce the ablated mass bit (the consumption of propellant per discharge) of PPTs. The use of perfluoropolyether resulted in an increase in the ablated mass bit and impulse bit, and a decrease in the specific impulse and efficiency. When using perfluoropolyether, the impulse bit increases with decreasing pore diameter of the porous ceramic. Perfluoropolyether achieved a higher specific impulse and efficiency with decreasing pore diameter of the porous ceramic, due to the increasing kinetic energy of plasma as a percentage of total energy. Highlights: The performance of a PPT using perfluoropolyether propellant is studied. Perfluoropolyether propellant is impregnated within a porous ceramic. The influence of the ceramic pore diameter on the PPT performance is studied. The variation of the PFPE PPT during 4000 discharges is studied.