| 2019-SHAS-68727 | |
| Researchers at Purdue University have developed a liquid fed pulsed plasma thruster (LF-PPT) for use in nanosatellites. Contemporary solid/gas phase propellants have been employed with limited success in nanosatellites, stemming from low efficiencies, limited operational lifetime, contamination issues, and complex/bulky injection systems. To remediate these disadvantageous qualities and make thruster systems more applicable to nanosatelitte designs, this technology presents a novel micro LF-PPT propulsion system comprised of a pulsed plasma accelerator and a low-energy surface flashover igniter. No propellant feed mechanism is needed with this design, making it beneficial for nanosatellite application due to their volumetric constraints. Pentaphenyl trimethyl trisiloxan was used as a propellant for testing parameters of the system including igniter breakdown, plasma dynamics, and exhaust velocity. Advantages: -Increased efficiency -Smaller sized propulsion system -Increased lifetime -"Green" propulsion system Potential Applications: -Nanosatellites -CubeSats |
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Jun 23, 2020
Utility Patent
United States
(None)
(None)
Jun 25, 2019
Provisional-Patent
United States
(None)
(None)
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Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Convergence Center 101 Foundry Drive, Suite 2500 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Phone: (765) 588-3475 Fax: (765) 463-3486 Email: otcip@prf.org |