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Non-contact thrust stand calibration method for repetitively pulsed electric thrusters.
Andrea R Wong1, Alexandra Toftul, Kurt A Polzin
1NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama 35812, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|March 3, 2012
Summary
A new thrust stand calibration technique accurately measures pulsed forces for electric thrusters. This method uses a non-contact magnetic field and piezoelectric transducer for precise in-space propulsion testing.
Area of Science:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Applied Physics
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate thrust measurement is critical for in-space propulsion systems.
- Repetitively pulsed electric thrusters require specialized calibration techniques due to their intermittent operation.
- Existing methods may not adequately capture the transient forces characteristic of pulsed propulsion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel thrust stand calibration technique for repetitively pulsed electric thrusters.
- To establish a reliable method for time-accurate force measurement in pulsed propulsion testing.
- To relate the average force to the thrust stand's deflection using a simple physical model.
Main Methods:
- A modified hanging pendulum thrust stand was utilized.
- A pulsed magnetic field generated by a solenoid acted on a permanent magnet on the thrust stand.
- A piezoelectric force transducer transferred the pulsed force for time-accurate measurement.
- Pendulum arm dynamics were modeled to establish a relationship between deflection and force.
Main Results:
- A quasi-steady average deflection of the thrust stand arm was linearly related to the average applied force via Hooke's law.
- The technique demonstrated universal applicability, with a limitation concerning the pulsing period relative to the natural thrust stand motion.
- Calibration data obtained under varying impulse bits and pulse frequencies showed excellent quantitative agreement.
- The overall error on the linear regression fit for the calibration coefficient was approximately 1%.
Conclusions:
- The developed technique provides a robust and accurate method for calibrating thrust stands for pulsed electric thrusters.
- The non-contact magnetic force application and piezoelectric transduction ensure precise, time-resolved measurements.
- The linear relationship between deflection and force simplifies calibration and data analysis for pulsed propulsion systems.
