Torsional thrust stand for characterization of microthrusters

Kean How Cheah, K. S. Low

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
54 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper describes the setup of a precise thrust stand based on torsional pendulum design for characterizing the performance of microthrusters. Calibration has been carried out by using an improved version of electrostatic calibrator, which produces a wide range of accurate and repeatable calibration force. After the calibration, the thrust stand can resolve constant force from 40μN to 3.4mN and impulse bit from 7μNs to 340μNs. The usefulness of the thrust stand has been demonstrated by measuring the performance of two different microthrusters: a pulsed plasma thruster that produces impulse bit of 23.15μNs and a vaporizing liquid microthruster that produces steady state thrust of 633.5μN.

Original languageEnglish
Article number012019
JournalIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Volume152
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Oct 2016
Event6th Innovation in Aerospace Engineering and Technology 2016 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Duration: 8 Nov 20169 Nov 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • General Engineering

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