STTR Phase I: Metal Fueled Hall Effect Thruster Using A Radioisotope Heater

STTR 第一阶段：使用放射性同位素加热器的金属燃料霍尔效应推进器

• 批准号: 2222474
• 负责人: Evan Aguirre
• 金额: $ 27.14万
• 依托单位: ROGUE SPACE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-08-01 至 2023-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2222474&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Metal; Fueled; Hall

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Phase I project is to significantly alter the current state of electric propulsion by providing a thruster platform with extended capabilities. Such a change would allow Hall thrusters to span a wider range of operating parameters with added benefits of increased efficiency, lower cost, exploration of deep space, and backup power via a radioisotope power system (RPS). By using a RPS, the thruster platform will produce one watt of electrical power for every nine watts of heating power. The heating power will enable the use of high-density metal propellants such as zinc. The electrical power will provide a backup for solar generation and can potentially power basic satellite systems. This work will provide scientific knowledge regarding nuclear fuel recycling, power generation, and related space technologies. Lastly, this work will be highly collaborative and will contribute to the training of a highly diverse workforce. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project addresses a longstanding issue in space propulsion; the reliance on xenon as a fuel. The primary objective of the proposed work is to produce a prototype Hall Effect thruster utilizing zinc fuel and a RPS unit. A thermal management system will manage the heat produced by the RPS unit to deliver fuel to the thruster. Initial work will use an electrical module that will act as a placeholder for the RPS unit; the latter can be inserted when necessary. Design of the prototype will follow Hall Effect thruster scaling laws to reduce risk. The results of the tested prototype will provide information on the expelled ions, thruster efficiency, and divergence of the thruster plume. More broadly, the results will provide data on realizing an alternative to xenon fuel for space propulsion as part of an improved thruster platform.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该第一阶段项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是通过提供具有扩展功能的推进器平台来显着改变电力推进的当前状态。这样的改变将使霍尔推进器能够跨越更广泛的运行参数，并具有提高效率、降低成本、探索深空以及通过放射性同位素电源系统（RPS）提供备用电源等额外优势。通过使用 RPS，推进器平台将为每 9 瓦的加热功率产生 1 瓦的电力。加热功率将使高密度金属推进剂（例如锌）的使用成为可能。电力将为太阳能发电提供备用电源，并有可能为基本卫星系统提供动力。这项工作将提供有关核燃料回收、发电和相关空间技术的科学知识。最后，这项工作将是高度协作的，并将有助于培训高度多样化的劳动力。 这个小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目解决了太空推进中长期存在的问题；对氙气作为燃料的依赖。拟议工作的主要目标是利用锌燃料和 RPS 装置生产霍尔效应推进器原型。热管理系统将管理 RPS 装置产生的热量，以将燃料输送到推进器。最初的工作将使用一个电气模块作为 RPS 单元的占位符；必要时可以插入后者。原型的设计将遵循霍尔效应推进器缩放定律以降低风险。测试原型的结果将提供有关排出离子、推进器效率和推进器羽流发散度的信息。更广泛地说，研究结果将提供有关实现太空推进氙燃料替代品的数据，作为改进的推进器平台的一部分。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优点和更广泛的影响审查进行评估，被认为值得支持标准。