Design and fabrication of a full elastic sub-micron-Newton scale thrust measurement system for plasma micro thrusters

Zhongkai ZHANG (张仲恺); Guanrong HANG (杭观荣); Jiayun QI (齐佳运); Zun ZHANG (张尊); Zhe ZHANG (章喆); Jiubin LIU (刘久镔); Wenjiang YANG (杨文将); Haibin TANG (汤海滨)

doi:10.1088/2058-6272/ac1ac3

Plasma Science and Technology > 2021 > 23(10): 104004. > DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/ac1ac3

Zhongkai ZHANG (张仲恺), Guanrong HANG (杭观荣), Jiayun QI (齐佳运), Zun ZHANG (张尊), Zhe ZHANG (章喆), Jiubin LIU (刘久镔), Wenjiang YANG (杨文将), Haibin TANG (汤海滨). Design and fabrication of a full elastic sub-micron-Newton scale thrust measurement system for plasma micro thrusters[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2021, 23(10): 104004. DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/ac1ac3

Citation:

PDF (2130 KB)

Design and fabrication of a full elastic sub-micron-Newton scale thrust measurement system for plasma micro thrusters

1 School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
2 Shanghai Institute of Space Propulsion, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Space Engine, Shanghai 201112, People's Republic of China
3 School of Astronautics, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China
4 The Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart D-70569, Germany
5 Key Laboratory of Spacecraft Design Optimization & Dynamic Simulation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
6 Laboratory of Space Environment Monitoring and Information Processing, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China

Funds: This work was partly supported by the Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Space Engine (No. 17DZ2280800).

More Information

Received Date: March 17, 2021
Revised Date: August 01, 2021
Accepted Date: August 03, 2021

Graphical Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

In this work, a force measurement system is proposed to measure the thrust of plasma microthruster with thrust magnitude ranging from sub-micro-Newtons to hundreds micro-Newtons. The thrust measurement system uses an elastic torsional pendulum structure with a capacitance sensor to measure the displacement, which can reflect the position change caused by the applied force perpendicular to the pendulum axis. In the open-loop mode, the steady-state thrust or the impulse of the plasma micro-thruster can be obtained from the swing of the pendulum, and in the closed-loop mode the steady-state thrust can be obtained from the feedback force that keeps the pendulum at a specific position. The thrust respond of the system was calibrated using an electrostatic weak force generation device. Experimental results show that the system can measure a thrust range from 0 to 200 μN in both open-loop mode and closed-loop mode with a thrust resolution of 0.1 μN, and the system can response to a pulse bit at the magnitude of 0.1 mN s generated by a micro cathode arc thruster. The background noise of the closed-loop mode is lower than that of the open-loop mode, both less than 0.1 mN Hz / in the range of 10 mHz to 5 Hz.
- plasma thruster micro-thrust,
- measurement,
- torsional pendulum

FullText(HTML)

References (35)

References

[1]	Goebel D et al 2002 In 38th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. & Exhibit p 4348
[2]	Goebel D M and Katz I 2008 Fundamentals of Electric Propulsion: Ion and Hall Thrusters vol 1 (New York: Wiley)
[3]	Mueller J et al 2010 Survey of Propulsion Technologies Applicable to CubeSats Technical Report NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (http://hdl.handle.net/2014/41627)
[4]	Zhang G C et al 2020 Chin. J. Aeronaut. 33 3018
[5]	Cao S et al 2020 Acta Astronaut. 170 509
[6]	Tsay M et al 2016 52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. p 4544
[7]	Spence D et al 2013 In AIAA SPACE 2013 Conf. and Exposition p 5329
[8]	Zhuang T et al 2014 J. Propul. Power 30 29
[9]	Lukas J et al 2016 AIP Adv. 6 025311
[10]	Zhang Z et al 2018 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 27 015004
[11]	Zhang Z et al 2020 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 29 045006
[12]	Haag T W 1997 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 68 2060
[13]	Jamison A et al 2002 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 73 3629
[14]	Gamero C M 2003 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74 4509
[15]	Ziemer J and Microthrust M S 2004 40th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. and Exhibit p 3439
[16]	Maghami P G et al 2005 Class. Quantum Gravity 22 S421
[17]	Koizumi H et al 2004 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 75 3185
[18]	Polzin K A et al 2006 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77 105108
[19]	Tang H B et al 2011 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82 035118
[20]	Tang H B et al 2012 Micro-thrust full elasticity measurement device J. Propulsion Technol. 28 703–6 (in Chinese) (https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotalTJJS200706024.htm)
[21]	Boccaletto L and Agostino L 2011 36th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conf. and Exhibit p 3268
[22]	Yang Y X et al 2012 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83 015105
[23]	Zhou W J et al 2013 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84 125115
[24]	Soni J and Roy S 2013 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84 095103
[25]	Chakraborty S et al 2015 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 86 115109
[26]	Anselmo M R and Marques R 2019 Meas. Sci. Technol. 30 055903
[27]	Den Hartog J P 1985 Mechanical vibrations Courier Corporation (New York: Dover)
[28]	Ciaralli S et al 2013 Meas. Sci. Technol. 24 115003
[29]	Tang H B et al 2011 J. Propul. Power, 27 218
[30]	Tang H B et al 2011 Aerosp. Sci. Technol. 15 577
[31]	Kolbeck J et al 2017 Proc. 35th Int. Electric Propulsion Conf.(Georgia, USA) (http://electricrocket.org/IEPC/IEPC_2017_405.pdf)
[32]	Yan A et al 2009 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition p 212
[33]	Hinkelmann K and Kempthorne O 2007 Design and Analysis of Experiments, Volume 1: Introduction to Experimental Design (New York: Wiley)
[34]	Chen J et al 2004 Remote Sens. Environ. 91 332
[35]	Gasior M and Gonzalez J L 2004 AIP Conf. Proc. 732 276

[1]	Yanhui JIA (贾艳辉), Juanjuan CHEN (陈娟娟), Ning GUO (郭宁), Xinfeng SUN (孙新锋), Chenchen WU (吴辰宸), Tianping ZHANG (张天平). 2D hybrid-PIC simulation of the two and three-grid system of ion thruster[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2018, 20(10): 105502. DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/aace52
[2]	Xifeng CAO (曹希峰), Guanrong HANG (杭观荣), Hui LIU (刘辉), Yingchao MENG (孟颖超), Xiaoming LUO (罗晓明), Daren YU (于达仁). Hybrid–PIC simulation of sputtering product distribution in a Hall thruster[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2017, 19(10): 105501. DOI: 10.1088/2058-6272/aa7940
[3]	ZHOU Qiujiao (周秋娇), QI Bing (齐冰), HUANG Jianjun (黄建军), PAN Lizhu (潘丽竹), LIU Ying (刘英). Measurement of Electron Density and Ion Collision Frequency with Dual Assisted Grounded Electrode DBD in Atmospheric Pressure Helium Plasma Jet[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2016, 18(4): 400-405. DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/18/4/12
[4]	HAN Qing (韩卿), WANG Jing (王敬), ZHANG Lianzhu (张连珠). PIC/MCC Simulation of Radio Frequency Hollow Cathode Discharge in Nitrogen[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2016, 18(1): 72-78. DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/18/1/13
[5]	LIU Wenzheng(刘文正), WANG Hao(王浩), ZHANG Dejin(张德金), ZHANG Jian(张坚). Study on the Discharge Characteristics of a Coaxial Pulsed Plasma Thruster[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2014, 16(4): 344-351. DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/16/4/08
[6]	LIU Xin (刘欣), LI Shengli (李胜利), LI Mingshu (李铭书). Factors Influencing the Electron Yield of Needle-Ring Pulsed Corona Discharge Electron Source for Negative Ion Mobility Spectrometer[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2013, 15(12): 1215-1220. DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/15/12/10
[7]	LIU Mingping (刘明萍), LIU Sanqiu (刘三秋), HE Jun (何俊), LIU Jie (刘杰). Electron Acceleration During the Mode Transition from Laser Wakefield to Plasma Wakefield Acceleration with a Dense-Plasma Wall[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2013, 15(9): 841-844. DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/15/9/01
[8]	Hiroyuki TOBARI, Masaki TANIGUCHI, Mieko KASHIWAGI, Masayuki DAIRAKU, Naotaka UMEDA, Haruhiko YAMANAKA, Kazuki TSUCHIDA, Jumpei TAKEMOTO, Kazuhiro WATANABE, Takashi INOUE, Keishi SAKAMOTO. Vacuum Insulation and Achievement of 980 keV, 185 A/m² H^- Ion Beam Acceleration at JAEA for the ITER Neutral Beam Injector[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2013, 15(2): 179-183. DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/15/2/21
[9]	DENG Aihua (邓爱华), LIU Mingwei (刘明伟), LIU Jiansheng (刘建胜), LU Xiaoming (陆效明), XIA Changquan (夏长权), XU Jiancai (徐建彩), ANG Cheng (王成), SHEN Baifei (沈百飞), LI Ruxin (李儒新), et al. Generation of Preformed Plasma Channel for GeV-Scaled Electron Accelerator by Ablative Capillary Discharges[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2011, 13(3): 362-366.
[10]	B. F. MOHAMED, A. M. GOUDA. Electron Acceleration by Microwave Radiation Inside a Rectangular Waveguide[J]. Plasma Science and Technology, 2011, 13(3): 357-361.

Cited By

Cited by

Periodical cited type(18)

1.	Alrowaily, A.W., Khalid, M., Kabir, A. et al. On the electrostatic solitary waves in an electron–positron–ion plasma with Cairns–Tsallis distributed electrons. Rendiconti Lincei, 2025. DOI:10.1007/s12210-025-01304-w
2.	Khalid, M., Ata-ur-Rahman, Minhas, R., Alotaibi, B.M. et al. High-Frequency Electrostatic Cnoidal Waves in Unmagnetized Plasma. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2024, 54(1): 20. DOI:10.1007/s13538-023-01369-8
3.	El-Nabulsi, R.A.. A Fractional Model to Study Soliton in Presence of Charged Space Debris at Low-Earth Orbital Plasma Region. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 2024, 52(9): 4671-4693. DOI:10.1109/TPS.2024.3463178
4.	Nazziwa, L., Habumugisha, I., Jurua, E. Obliquely nonlinear solitary waves in magnetized electron–positron–ion plasma. Indian Journal of Physics, 2024. DOI:10.1007/s12648-024-03329-7
5.	Hammad, M.A., Khalid, M., Alrowaily, A.W. et al. Ion-acoustic cnoidal waves in a non-Maxwellian plasma with regularized κ-distributed electrons. AIP Advances, 2023, 13(10): 105127. DOI:10.1063/5.0172991
6.	Khalid, M., Kabir, A., Jan, S.U. et al. Coexistence of Compressive and Rarefactive Positron-Acoustic Electrostatic Excitations in Unmagnetized Plasma with Kaniadakis Distributed Electrons and Hot Positrons. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2023, 53(3): 66. DOI:10.1007/s13538-023-01266-0
7.	Khalid, M., Kabir, A., Jan, L.S. Qualitative analysis of nonlinear electrostatic excitations in magnetoplasma with pressure anisotropy. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung - Section A Journal of Physical Sciences, 2023, 78(4): 339-345. DOI:10.1515/zna-2022-0312
8.	Khalid, M., Elghmaz, E.A., Shamshad, L. Periodic Waves in Unmagnetized Nonthermal Dusty Plasma with Cairns Distribution. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2023, 53(1): 2. DOI:10.1007/s13538-022-01209-1
9.	Alyousef, H.A., Khalid, M., Ata-ur-Rahman, El-Tantawy, S.A. Large Amplitude Electrostatic (Un)modulated Excitations in Anisotropic Magnetoplasmas: Solitons and Freak Waves. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2022, 52(6): 202. DOI:10.1007/s13538-022-01199-0
10.	Alyousef, H.A., Khalid, M., Kabir, A. Nonlinear periodic structures in magnetoplasma with nonthermal electrons and positrons. EPL, 2022, 139(5): 53002. DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/ac882c
11.	Khalid, M., Naeem, S.N., Irshad, M. et al. Nonlinear Periodic Structures in Fully Relativistic Degenerate Plasma. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2022, 52(4): 140. DOI:10.1007/s13538-022-01130-7
12.	Khalid, M., Khan, M., Ata-ur-Rahman, Kabir, A. et al. Nonlinear Periodic Structures in Nonthermal Magnetoplasma with the Presence of Pressure Anisotropy. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2022, 52(4): 109. DOI:10.1007/s13538-022-01100-z
13.	Khalid, M., Ullah, A., Kabir, A. et al. Oblique propagation of ion-acoustic solitary waves in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma with Cairns distribution. EPL, 2022, 138(6): 63001. DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/ac765c
14.	Khalid, M., Kabir, A., Irshad, M. Ion-scale solitary waves in magnetoplasma with non-thermal electrons. EPL, 2022, 138(5): 53002. DOI:10.1209/0295-5075/ac668e
15.	Khalid, M., Khan, M., Rahman, A. et al. Nonlinear periodic structures in a magnetized plasma with Cairns distributed electrons. Indian Journal of Physics, 2022, 96(6): 1783-1790. DOI:10.1007/s12648-021-02108-y
16.	Mehdipoor, M., Asri, M. Physical aspects of cnoidal waves in non-thermal electron-beam plasma systems. Physica Scripta, 2022, 97(3): 035602. DOI:10.1088/1402-4896/ac5487
17.	Khalid, M., Khan, M., Ur-Rahman, A. et al. Ion acoustic solitary waves in magnetized anisotropic nonextensive plasmas. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung - Section A Journal of Physical Sciences, 2022, 77(2): 125-130. DOI:10.1515/zna-2021-0262
18.	Khalid, M., Khan, M., Muddusir, Ata-Ur-Rahman, Irshad, M. Periodic and localized structures in dusty plasma with Kaniadakis distribution. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung - Section A Journal of Physical Sciences, 2021, 76(10): 891-897. DOI:10.1515/zna-2021-0164

Other cited types(0)

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Article views (207) PDF downloads (240) Cited by(18)

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Abstract

References

Design and fabrication of a full elastic sub-micron-Newton scale thrust measurement system for plasma micro thrusters