Electrically controlled solid propellants esp are potential substitutes for solid as well as liquid propellants because they combine features of both solid and liquid propellants, such as longer shelf life, higher energy density, and excellent burn ratethrottle control. Spinsat special purpose inexpensive satellite spacecraft launch sensor complement cyclops deployer mission status references. Electrothermalchemical gun systems utilizing novel electric solid propellants t. Development of electrically controlled energetic materials. Motor designs that enable the control of ignition, combustion burn rate, extinguishment, and reignition of solid propellants by precise application of electrical power are provided. Electrically powered spacecraft propulsion wikipedia.
Us8617327b1 method for controlling a high performance. An electricallypowered spacecraft propulsion system uses electrical, and possibly also magnetic fields, to change the velocity of a spacecraft. Combustion characteristics of solid propellants under high. Us20060011276a1 electrically controlled solid propellant. Us8584443b1 method and system for controlling solid. Combustion products of propellants and ammunition 361 midgets did not feel too happy in the confines of their tank turret and drivers compartment. Both core and end burning no moving parts ecesp grainsmotors to three inches in diameter have now been tested. We also discuss liners and insulators, propellants for igniters, tailoring of propellants, and propellants for gas generators. Pdf present study focuses on the type of solid propellant whose burn process can be controlled electrically. In embodiments, the control system is implemented by a software algorithm embedded in missile flight controllers and contains all control system elements and control compensation that performs thrust control for many defense and. These propellants are also being considered for use in the ablative pulsed plasma thruster. Most of these kinds of spacecraft propulsion systems work by electrically expelling propellant reaction mass at high speed electric thrusters typically use much less propellant than chemical rockets because they have a higher exhaust speed operate. Bad ventilation in the cramped interior caused fatigue and exhaustion, reducing combat efficiency and endurance. Electricallycontrolled extinguishable solid propellant esp can be utilized in an on command thrust controllable motor when designed.
This extinguishable solid propellant technology could be used on small inspace propulsion projects, allowing these small satellites to benefit from the high volumetric efficiency of solid propellants. Specific impulse of electric solid propellant in an electrothermal. Provide a test platform to demonstrate and characterize electrically controlled solid propellant esp thrusters in space, test the groundbased detection and characterization capabilities, and provide an atmospheric drag experiment during a more active solar period. The shape and size of a propellant grain determines the burn time, amount of gas and rate produced from the burning propellant and consequently thrust vs time profile. Electric solid propellants are advanced solid chemical rocket propellants that can be controlled ignited, throttled and extinguished through the application and removal of an electric current.
Once electrically ignited, burning rates can be increased by up to 20x throttled using electrical power and then switched off extinguished by removing the electrical power. An electrically controlled propellant comprising an ionomer oxidizer polymer binder, an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material, and a mobile phase comprising at least one ionic liquid is disclosed. Electrically controlled solid propellants esp are potential substitutes for solid as well as liquid propellants because they combine features of both solid and liquid. Propellantactuated devices are used to drive turbines, move. Impulse measurements of electric solid propellant in an. The propellants rate of combustion can be changed by up to 10x by altering the electrical power input. The possibility of varying at will the rate of burning of solid propellants, after ignition, by the use of electric fields, is considered. Electricallycontrolled extinguishable solid propellant esp thrusters are inert unless ignited with an electric potential of appropriate magnitude.
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree. Spinsat mission ground truth characterization andrew. Their major applications are in launching projectiles from guns, rockets, and missile systems. Combustion of aphtpb, including ignition, combustion, extinction and reignition could be controlled by co2 laser irradiation at the back pressure of 0. Electrothermalchemical gun systems utilizing novel. The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a crosslinking agent. Electric propellant solid rocket motor thruster results enabling. The earliest rockets were solidfuel rockets powered by gunpowder.
Raytheon missile systems has developed and tested true onoffrestart solid propellant thrusters which are controlled only by electrical current. Digital solid state propulsion, llc was deployed from the interna onal space sta on on november 28, 2014, and is expected to reach full orbit decay in may 2016. Solid propellant rockets were invented before liquidfueled rockets. A solidpropellant rocket or solid rocket is a rocket with a rocket engine that uses solid propellants fueloxidizer. Solid propellants are energetic materials used to launch and propel rockets and. Presented to the faculty of the graduate school of the. A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. By using the rtr technique and coupling it with twophase flow numerical simulation, xiao et al. It may be a gas, liquid, plasma, or, before the chemical. Solidstate, ondemand gas generators as pneumatic batteries for microelectronic actuators and fluid delivery wayne n. Spinsat is a small satellite mission of nrl naval research laboratory, washington d.
The solid propellant type began with contributions by scientists zasiadko, constantinov, and congreve. Electrically controlled extinguishable solid propellants escsp are capable of multiple ignitions, extinguishments and throttle control by the application of electrical power. Throttle control of an extinguishable solid propellant thruster system. Safe electrically controlled solid propellant thruster. The pvan polymer in the present invention may be of medium 100,000 to high molecular weight 220 sec. Solid propellants in this chapter we describe several common solid rocket propellants, their principal categories, ingredients, hazards, manufacturing processes, and qual ity control. Now in an advanced state, solid propellant rockets remain in widespread use today, including the space shuttle dual booster engines and the delta series booster stages. Unlimited distribution the views, opinions, andor findings contained in this articlepresentation are those of the. In short time, the first solid propellants which could be extinguished in a controlled manner, beginning with the compound aspen. Space administration nasa innovative advanced concepts. Electrically controlled solid propellants ecsps are insensitive to. Us7788900b2 electrically controlled extinguishable solid.
Denny and frederick measured the baseline burning rate of an electrically controlled solidpropellant formulation using rtr. Spinsats primary mission is to demonstrate and characterize the onorbit performance of electrically controlled solid propellant thruster technology in. Electrical control of solid propellant burning proceedings of the. Design of such motors, including choice of electrode materials, the form of electric power, and exemplary facialextent electrode and axialextent electrode configurations are also provided. Sawka digital solid state propulsion reno, nv distribution a. Combustion and propulsion characteristics of composite. Liquid rocket motors are not easily stored and use toxic. The present invention relates to a solid rocket motor control system that uses state of the art electrically ignited, extinguishable and throttleable propellants. Electric solid propellants are advanced solid chemical rocket propellants that can be controlled ignited, throttled, and extinguished through the. Electrically controlled extinguishable solid propellants. The spinsat flight is a small satellite mission proposed by the naval research laboratory and digital solid state propulsion dssp llc to demonstrate and characterize the onorbit performance of electrically controlled solid propellant technology in space.
Burning rate of propellant increased linearly with the increasing of laser power density. Solid rocket propellants propellants are mixtures of chemical compounds that produce large volume of gas at controlled, predetermined rates 41. Electrically controlled extinguishable solid propellants escsp are capable of multiple ignitions, extinguishments and throttle control by the application. Electric propellant solid rocket motor thruster results. The boric acid the crosslinking agent has been found to function as a crosslinking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the compositions ability to withstand combustion without melting. Once extinguished, the electrically controlled propellant can then be reignited electrically at will. This paper describes experimental work on lasercontrolled combustion of solid propellants. Characterization of electric solid propellant pulsed. Recent research has also explored improving the efficiency of propellant mixes, and marshall is currently testing propellants for expo. A safe, broadly scalable propulsion technology, 53 rd jannaf propulsion meeting, monterey, ca, december 2005.
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