A thrust balance for low power hollow cathode thrusters

Frollani, Daniele; Coletti, Michele; Gabriel, Stephen

doi:10.1088/0957-0233/25/6/065902

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…These systems provide much a larger working range and may support higher dead loads with sufficient measurement resolution. For example, the resolution in [9,10] is 1 pN for a dead load of about 0.04 N, in the current work approximately 20 nN for a dead load of about 13.5 N and in [13][14][15]17] above μN for 10 N-30 N dead loads.…”

Section: High-precision Horizontally Directed Force Measurements For ...mentioning

confidence: 41%

“…In the literature, a number of techniques and state-of-theart sensors have been applied in precision force measurements, down to pN resolution/precision [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The common principle employed in most of these studies is the deflection measurement of the dead load, either by a torsional or pendulum-based balance.…”

Section: High-precision Horizontally Directed Force Measurements For ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, there are also developments such as pendulum-like set-ups in the field of micro-electric propulsion systems. Although such systems support high dead loads for the thrust calibration and characterization [13,14,17], in corresponding reports the measurements are shown only in the range of μto μN forces with a resolution of several μN. An attractive alternative is to employ state-of-the-art high precision balances (provided by Sartorius AG-Göttingen) working on the principle of balancing at the zero point by means of electromagnetic force compensation (EMFC) [24].…”

Section: High-precision Horizontally Directed Force Measurements For ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-precision horizontally directed force measurements for high dead loads based on a differential electromagnetic force compensation system

Vasilyan

Rivero

Schleichert

et al. 2016

Meas. Sci. Technol.

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In this paper, we present an application for realizing high-precision horizontally directed force measurements in the order of several tens of nN in combination with high dead loads of about 10 N. The set-up is developed on the basis of two identical state-of-the-art electromagnetic force compensation (EMFC) high precision balances. The measurement resolution of horizontally directed single-axis quasi-dynamic forces is 20 nN over the working range of ±100 μN. The set-up operates in two different measurement modes: in the open-loop mode the mechanical deflection of the proportional lever is an indication of the acting force, whereas in the closed-loop mode it is the applied electric current to the coil inside the EMFC balance that compensates deflection of the lever to the offset zero position. The estimated loading frequency (cutoff frequency) of the set-up in the open-loop mode is about 0.18 Hz, in the closed-loop mode it is 0.7 Hz. One of the practical applications that the set-up is suitable for is the flow rate measurements of low electrically conducting electrolytes by applying the contactless technique of Lorentz force velocimetry. Based on a previously developed set-up which uses a single EMFC balance, experimental, theoretical and numerical analyses of the thermo-mechanical properties of the supporting structure are presented.

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Section: High-precision Horizontally Directed Force Measurements For ...mentioning

confidence: 41%

Section: High-precision Horizontally Directed Force Measurements For ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: High-precision Horizontally Directed Force Measurements For ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-precision horizontally directed force measurements for high dead loads based on a differential electromagnetic force compensation system

Vasilyan

Rivero

Schleichert

et al. 2016

Meas. Sci. Technol.

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“…Notice that at the current state the differential force measuring system is considered as portable and stand-alone force measurement system. With reference to jet propulsion technologies, our differential force measurement system may be considered as potential applications in the field of research and development for the calibration and characterization of pulsed micro-thrusters [31][32][33].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards metering tap water by Lorentz force velocimetry

Vasilyan

Ebert

Weidner

et al. 2015

Meas. Sci. Technol.

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In this paper, we present enhanced flow rate measurement by applying the contactless Lorentz Force Velocimetry (LFV) technique. Particularly, we show that the LFV is a feasible technique for metering the flow rate of salt water in a rectangular channel. The measurements of the Lorentz forces as a function of the flow rate are presented for different electrical conductivities of the salt water. The smallest value of conductivity is achieved at 0.06 S•m −1 , which corresponds to the typical value of tap water. In comparison with previous results, the performance of LFV is improved by approximately 2 orders of magnitude by means of a high-precision differential force measurement setup. Furthermore, the sensitivity curve and the calibration factor of the flowmeter are provided based on extensive measurements for the flow velocities ranging from 0.2 to 2.5 m•s −1 and conductivities ranging from 0.06 to 10 S•m −1 .

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“…This requisite limits the temporal response of pendulum and microbalance designs, which is not crucial since the thruster impulse changes have a slower time scale. 7 In addition to pendulum configurations, [6][7][8][9][10] strain load cells and piezoelectric transducers with a better dynamic response can be used 11 for the millinewton range. However, their operation in vacuum and under ambient plasma conditions can be an issue since this physical medium is also chemically reactive.…”

Section: Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Thrust stand based on a single point load cell for impulse measurements from plasma thrusters

Conde

Lahoz

Grabulosa

et al. 2020

Review of Scientific Instruments

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We introduce a simple thrust stand for the direct measurement of the millinewton impulses or thrusts delivered by small thrusters intended for in-space electric propulsion. The thruster under test, with a weight below 1.5 kg, is disposed on a horizontal platform and its impulse is measured as an overweight by using a strain gauge cell physically protected from the ambient plasma and vacuum conditions. This system provides ten thrust readings per second with noise peak to peak amplitudes of 0.10-0.18 mN. The calibration procedures to verify its dynamic response to time dependent thrusts in the range of 0-15 mN using control weights as well as its minimum thrust sensitivity δTs = 0.3 mN are discussed. Additionally, its simple conception permits a plain data reduction and analysis of steady state and low frequency thrust transients. This thrust stand was employed under low pressure and plasma ambient conditions to measure the steady impulses delivered by the Alternative Low Power Hybrid Ion Engine (ALPHIE) of 0.4-4.0 mN with absolute errors T = ±0.3 mN. Finally, the experimental results show that a control electric voltage governs the ALPHIE thruster throttle.

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A thrust balance for low power hollow cathode thrusters

Cited by 5 publications

References 8 publications

High-precision horizontally directed force measurements for high dead loads based on a differential electromagnetic force compensation system

High-precision horizontally directed force measurements for high dead loads based on a differential electromagnetic force compensation system

Towards metering tap water by Lorentz force velocimetry

Thrust stand based on a single point load cell for impulse measurements from plasma thrusters

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