In the framework of the PulCheR project, a small monopropellant pulsed thruster powered by 98% Hydrogen Peroxide has been tested in order to assess its propulsive performance in pulse mode operation. The present paper reports the test campaign with a suitably developed catalytic bed made of 200-250 μm diameter pellets of -Al2O3 covered by Platinum. The thruster has been operated starting from a minimum pulse frequency of 5 Hz up to a maximum pulse frequency of 50 Hz. During the experiments, the value of the opening time of the firing valve ranges from 2.4 ms to 10 ms. The target throttling level of 5:1 has been successfully demonstrated while the requirement on the vacuum specific impulse (>185 s) has not been reached during the overall operation of the thruster (only in one case the extrapolated vacuum specific impulse exceeded the target value).
Design and Testing of a 98% H2O2 Pulsed Thruster
Angelo, PasiniPrimo
;Giovanni, PaceSecondo
;Dario, ValentiniUltimo
2016-01-01
Abstract
In the framework of the PulCheR project, a small monopropellant pulsed thruster powered by 98% Hydrogen Peroxide has been tested in order to assess its propulsive performance in pulse mode operation. The present paper reports the test campaign with a suitably developed catalytic bed made of 200-250 μm diameter pellets of -Al2O3 covered by Platinum. The thruster has been operated starting from a minimum pulse frequency of 5 Hz up to a maximum pulse frequency of 50 Hz. During the experiments, the value of the opening time of the firing valve ranges from 2.4 ms to 10 ms. The target throttling level of 5:1 has been successfully demonstrated while the requirement on the vacuum specific impulse (>185 s) has not been reached during the overall operation of the thruster (only in one case the extrapolated vacuum specific impulse exceeded the target value).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
