An impulsive thrust balance for applications of micro-pulsed plasma thrusters

作者：Ciaralli S^*; Coletti M; Gabriel S B

来源：Measurement Science and Technology, 2013, 24(11): 115003.

DOI：10.1088/0957-0233/24/11/115003

• electrical propulsion
• pulsed plasma thruster
• thrust balance

This paper describes the design and testing of a direct torsional impulsive thrust balance. The design philosophy allows the balance to measure impulse bits (Ibit) in the range of 20-120 mu Ns typical of pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) for pico-and nano-satellites. The uncertainty in the Ibit measurement is quantified to be about 8.8%, smaller than the typical values of this kind of balance (between 12% and 15%). This has been possible due to an in-depth analysis of all the possible sources of disturbance, which allows the choice of the most suitable measurement and estimation methods to minimize the errors. The balance has successfully been used for testing two PPTs with different propellant feeding system, nominal energy, mass and delivered impulse bits.

• 出版日期2013-11