Presentation Synopsis:
Figure 1: (a) Exploded and (b) assembled views of of
UAMS prototypes. (c) Integration of UAMS into a 2P PQ
structural frame (Credit: Design adopted from Alba
Orbital)
Dr Kean-How Cheah
University of nottingham
Dr. Kean How CHEAH is an Assistant Professor at School of Aerospace, University of Nottingham Ningbo China. He received the BEng degree in aerospace from Universiti Sains Malaysia, and the PhD degree in engineering from the University of Nottingham. Prior to joining the university, he held academic positions with Heriot-Watt University Malaysia and Taylor’s University and post-doctoral researcher position with Satellite Research Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
“A PocketQube compatible micropropulsion system based on vibrating mesh technology”
Since the introduction of PocketQube (PQ, 1P standard unit of 5 × 5 × 5 cm and 250 g) concept in 2009, there are 53 PQs launched into space as of January 2023. The small spatial volume of a PQ poses stringent requirements on the propulsion system, which is not only expected to be highly compact and thus small in footprint, but also consume low electrical power. As such, only two PQs, i.e. WREN (1P, 2013) and Laika (2P, 2022) [1], had successfully demonstrated the operation of PQ-compatible micropropulsion system in space. Currently, there are a few different propulsion concepts under development, such as pulsed plasma [2], electrospray [3], vacuum arc [2], and Hall Effect [4] for integration into PQ platform. While these micropropulsion systems are essentially miniaturized version of the existing concepts, we are exploring a new propulsion mechanism based on the vibrating mesh technology, which uses a piezoelectric-driven vibrating stainless steel plate that is perforated with micron-sized holes to overcome the surface tension of a working liquid to form tiny droplets (a process known as ultrasonic atomization), and subsequently ejects them at high speed. A proof-of-concept study of the new ultrasonic atomization micropropulsion system (UAMS) had been conducted with the preliminary findings presented in the recent International
Astronautical Congress (IAC 2022) [5]. The first prototype was producing a thrust of 101.3μN, and consuming an electrical power of 0.72W. In this conference presentation, we will provide the update on the latest development of UAMS, in particular the design, prototyping, testing, as well as the performance evaluation.
Figure 2: Testing of UAMS prototype in a
rough vacuum chamber
Reference
[1] Porkchop AB. "Space Heritage since January 2022." https://www.porkchop.space/ (accessed 15
August 2022).
[2] Applied Ions Systems. "Active and Ongoing Electric Propulsion System Developments at AIS."
https://appliedionsystems.com/active-thrusters/ (accessed 9 May 2023).
[3] D. Villegas, S. Correyero, M. Wijnen, and P. Fajardo, "Indirect characterization of ATHENA
performance, a novel externally wetted Electrospray Propulsion System," in 8th International
Conference on Space Propulsion, Estoril, Portugal, 2022.
[4] M. A. Bretti, "Progress and Developments of Ultra-Compact 10 Watt Class Adamantane Fueled Hall
Thrusters for Picosatellites," in 37th International Electric Propulsion Conference, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA, 2022
[5] R. Kaimal, X. Zhu, D. Halim, Y. Shi, K.H. Cheah, “A compact and high thrust-to-power micropropulsion
system using ultrasonic vibrating mesh technology for PocketQube applications”, 73rd International
Astronautical Congress, 2022