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Títol: Characterization and Improvement of Thrust Balance Measurement Technique for SX3 Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster


Estudiants que han llegit aquest projecte:


Director/a: GUTIÉRREZ CABELLO, JORDI

Departament: FIS

Títol: Characterization and Improvement of Thrust Balance Measurement Technique for SX3 Applied-Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thruster

Data inici oferta: 27-03-2019     Data finalització oferta: 27-11-2019



Estudis d'assignació del projecte:
    MU AEROSPACE S&T 15
Tipus: Individual
 
Lloc de realització: EETAC
 
Paraules clau:
Propulsió elèctrica,thrust measurement, AFMPD, electric propulsion, SX3
 
Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
Steady state applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster
promises good compromise between thrust density and specific
impulse, making them relevant for interplanetary missions
requiring high thrusts. The IRS 100 kW gas-fed steady-state
AF-MPD SX3 thruster has shown promising results in previous
held test campaigns. Experimental results in those campaigns
showed non-linear behavior of tare forces, resulting in
respective error in the thrust measurement and this error then
propagates in further calculation of Isp, thrust efficiency,
etc. This motivated improvement in the thrust balance and
measurement technique.

Various error sources in the thrust measurement technique
were identified and solutions to mitigate them were presented.
A number of changes in the thrust balance were made in
order to improve the measurement technique and data quality.
The effectiveness of improvements had been experimentally
characterized and presented. Previously the thrust measurement
technique featured manual control of the measurement setup
which led to complex and inconsistent test procedures. A new
programmable electronic control unit was specifically designed
for more consistent and automated measurement and calibration
procedure. Potential error sources of the measurement chain
have been systematically identified, characterized and
discussed.

The analysis tool for thrust characterization was redesigned
which gives fine control of the interval selection and data
export, this ensured accurate thrust and calibration
calculations. The new code is more modular to adapt for
changes and is very flexible with user interaction reducing
complexity while still retaining the functionality. To further
improve the measurements accuracy some suggestions are made.
 
Overview (resum en anglès):
Steady state applied-field magnetoplasmadynamic thruster promises good compromise between thrust density and specific impulse, making them relevant for interplanetary missions requiring high thrusts. The IRS 100 kW gas-fed steady-state AF-MPD SX3 thruster has shown promising results in previous held test campaigns. Experimental results in those campaigns showed non-linear behavior of tare forces, resulting in respective error in the thrust measurement and this error then propagates in further calculation of Isp, thrust efficiency, etc. This motivated improvement in the thrust balance and measurement technique. Various error sources in the thrust measurement technique were identified and solutions to mitigate them were presented. A number of changes in the thrust balance were made in order to improve the measurement technique and data quality. The effectiveness of improvements had been experimentally characterized and presented. Previously the thrust measurement technique featured manual control of the measurement setup which led to complex and inconsistent test procedures. A new programmable electronic control unit was specifically designed for more consistent and automated measurement and calibration procedure. Potential error sources of the measurement chain have been systematically identified, characterized and discussed. The analysis tool for thrust characterization was redesigned which gives fine control of the interval selection and data export, this ensured accurate thrust and calibration calculations. The new code is more modular to adapt for changes and is very flexible with user interaction reducing complexity while still retaining the functionality. To further improve the measurements accuracy some suggestions are made.


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