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US 2010/0058734 A1Published application
Method of enhancing microthruster performance
AssigneesPurdue Research Foundation, University of Vermont
InventorsWilliam Benjamin Stein, Alina A. Alexeenko, Ivana Hrbud, Darren L. Hitt
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Abstract
Coaxial micronozzle designs are presented. Initial coaxial micronozzle designs utilizing center-body geometries to better exploit pressure thrust show a potential threefold increase in specific impulse under vacuum and near vacuum conditions.
Claims37
A microthruster for a spacecraft, comprising:
- a supply of pressurized gas;
- a pressure vessel having an entrance for receiving the supply of gas and defining an exit for releasing the gas to ambient conditions, the pressure vessel defining an internal flowpath between the entrance and exit, and
- a generally cylindrical centerbody extending through at least a portion of the flowpath and extending into the exit so as to form a generally annular throat;
- wherein the microthruster is adapted and configured such that the Reynolds number through the throat is less than about one thousand.
1 more element
A microthruster for a spacecraft, comprising:
- a supply of pressurized gas;
- a pressure vessel having an entrance for receiving the supply of gas and defining an exit for releasing the gas to ambient conditions, the pressure vessel defining an internal flowpath between the entrance and exit, and
- a centerbody having a first section extending through at least a portion of the flowpath, the first section having a conical outer surface such that the centerbody diameter increases in the direction of flow toward the exit, said centerbody having a second section extending from the first section to the exit;
- the second section having a conical outer surface such that the centerbody diameter decreases in the direction of flow toward the exit, the second section and the exit forming an annulus therebetween;
- wherein the centerbody includes an aft face proximate to the annulus and the aft face is blunt.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.