Development and Testing of a Water Microresistojet

Development and Testing of a Water Microresistojet

Ferreira, R.A.

Zandbergen, B.T.C. (mentor)
Gil, E. (mentor)
Voskuijl, M. (mentor)

Aerospace Engineering

2008-09-22

Delft University of Technology (TU-Delft) is investigating the use of resistance heaters as a means to increase the specific impulse of cold nitrogen gas thrusters. There are currently envisaged for use on micro- and nano-sized spacecraft. To this effect, TU-Delft developed the Delft University Resistojet (DUR) thruster with the purpose to heat cold nitrogen gas up to 1000 K. Present interest though is in liquid propellants as a mean to reduce storage volume. This thesis presents the design and performances of the new DUR and adapted DUR 1.0H2O, capable of producing standard atmosphere thrust level up to 20 mN, with an electric power up to 150 W, using water as propellant. In the theoretical study, the design, analysis and model prediction of a resistance heater, using water as propellant, are presented. The goal is to optimize the DUR thruster for this purpose and to predict experimental power levels, temperatures and pressure drop. Heater and thruster tests are performed on ground in the TU-Delft Rocket Test Stand (DARTS) with DUR 1.0 and a nozzle with a throat diameter of 0.4 mm. Measured parameters are thrust, pressure, temperature, mass flow, current and voltage.

resistojet
boiling
water

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:658ea711-b261-435d-a147-3b827f4766b3

TU Delft, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Integration/Space

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2008 Ferreira, R.A.