Journal
ACTA ASTRONAUTICA
Volume 67, Issue 3-4, Pages 468-482Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2010.04.009
Keywords
Micro-satellite; Vaporized liquid micro-thruster; MEMS; Flow pattern; Instability
Categories
Funding
- National Fund for Distinguished Yong Scholars [50825603]
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [50906092]
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MEMS micro-thruster is promising for future applications in precision formation flying missions. This paper presents performance evaluation and two-phase flow pattern visualization of a vaporized liquid micro-thruster (VLM). Micro-thrust force of several milli-Newtons was measured by a test rig with a lever. Flow patterns in the micro-thruster chip were visualized by a high speed camera bonded with a microscope. We found that flow patterns influenced its specific impulse and there were several types of flow boiling patterns in the thruster chip. Thrust instability was discussed as well. The results are helpful to understand flow characteristics of a VLM and improve its performance. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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