Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications
Iodine is considered as a feasible alternative to xenon as a propellant for electric propulsion systems, thanks to its good propulsive performance, high availability, and high storage density. However, as iodine is stored in solid state at ambient temperature, current state-of-the-art propellant man...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Aerospace |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/2/10 |
| _version_ | 1818156725122891776 |
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| author | Manuel Martín Saravia Luca Bernazzani Alessio Ceccarini Alfio Emanuele Vinci Fabrizio Paganucci |
| author_facet | Manuel Martín Saravia Luca Bernazzani Alessio Ceccarini Alfio Emanuele Vinci Fabrizio Paganucci |
| author_sort | Manuel Martín Saravia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Iodine is considered as a feasible alternative to xenon as a propellant for electric propulsion systems, thanks to its good propulsive performance, high availability, and high storage density. However, as iodine is stored in solid state at ambient temperature, current state-of-the-art propellant management systems are not suitable to be used with it. Moreover, due to its high reactivity, iodine imposes requirements on material-compatibility, hindering the use of mass flow measurement and control systems typically used with other propellants. The architecture of a controlled iodine feeding system for low power (200 W class) ion and Hall effect thrusters is presented and the resulting prototype is described. It consists of a sublimation assembly whose temperature is used to control the tank pressure, a normally-closed ON-OFF valve, and a thermal throttle to perform the fine control of the mass flow rate. A 1D thermal-fluid model concerning the vapor generation in the tank, and its evolution along the different components is detailed. The thermal throttle model has been experimentally verified using air as a working fluid. The model results agree with the measurements of the verification tests in the hypothesis of the presence of an extended region at the entrance of the pipe where the laminar flow velocity and temperature profiles are not fully developed (known as entry flow region). Finally, the system is experimentally characterized and the model of the full system is calibrated using experimental measurements. The calibration shows that the thermal throttle flow presents an entry flow region, that the viscosity is correctly modeled, and that there is a difference between the measured tank temperature and the effective sublimation temperature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:02:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74e31d8eee0e488d84cb23d55f114f01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4310 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:02:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerospace |
| spelling | doaj.art-74e31d8eee0e488d84cb23d55f114f012022-12-22T01:01:03ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102020-01-01721010.3390/aerospace7020010aerospace7020010Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion ApplicationsManuel Martín Saravia0Luca Bernazzani1Alessio Ceccarini2Alfio Emanuele Vinci3Fabrizio Paganucci4Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 56122 Pisa, ItalyIodine is considered as a feasible alternative to xenon as a propellant for electric propulsion systems, thanks to its good propulsive performance, high availability, and high storage density. However, as iodine is stored in solid state at ambient temperature, current state-of-the-art propellant management systems are not suitable to be used with it. Moreover, due to its high reactivity, iodine imposes requirements on material-compatibility, hindering the use of mass flow measurement and control systems typically used with other propellants. The architecture of a controlled iodine feeding system for low power (200 W class) ion and Hall effect thrusters is presented and the resulting prototype is described. It consists of a sublimation assembly whose temperature is used to control the tank pressure, a normally-closed ON-OFF valve, and a thermal throttle to perform the fine control of the mass flow rate. A 1D thermal-fluid model concerning the vapor generation in the tank, and its evolution along the different components is detailed. The thermal throttle model has been experimentally verified using air as a working fluid. The model results agree with the measurements of the verification tests in the hypothesis of the presence of an extended region at the entrance of the pipe where the laminar flow velocity and temperature profiles are not fully developed (known as entry flow region). Finally, the system is experimentally characterized and the model of the full system is calibrated using experimental measurements. The calibration shows that the thermal throttle flow presents an entry flow region, that the viscosity is correctly modeled, and that there is a difference between the measured tank temperature and the effective sublimation temperature.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/2/10electric propulsioniodinepropellant managementthermal throttle |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Martín Saravia Luca Bernazzani Alessio Ceccarini Alfio Emanuele Vinci Fabrizio Paganucci Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications Aerospace electric propulsion iodine propellant management thermal throttle |
| title | Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications |
| title_full | Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications |
| title_fullStr | Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications |
| title_short | Modeling and Characterization of a Thermally Controlled Iodine Feeding System for Electric Propulsion Applications |
| title_sort | modeling and characterization of a thermally controlled iodine feeding system for electric propulsion applications |
| topic | electric propulsion iodine propellant management thermal throttle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/7/2/10 |
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