Characteristic Study of Micro-Nozzle Performance and Thermal Transpiration Based Self Pumping in Vacuum Conditions

In this study, we designed cold gas propulsion system with minimum 0.25 mm nozzle and micro-thrust measurement system to analyze flow characteristic of micro propulsion system in ambient and vacuum condition. Argon and Nitrogen are used for propellant and the result of experiments is compared with CFD analysis and theory. But there is a point where reduced scale versions of conventional propulsion systems will no longer be practical. Therefore, a fundamentally different approach to propulsion systems was taken. That is thermal transpiration based micro propulsion system. It has no moving parts such as lubricants, pressurizing system and can pump the gaseous propellant by temperature gradient only(cold to hot). We are advancing basic research of propulsion system based on thermal transpiration in vacuum conditions and had tried experiment process and theoretical access in advance. To characterize membrane of Knudsen pump, we select Polyimide material that has low thermal conductivity(0.29 W/mK) and can stand high temperature($300^{\circ}C$) for long time. And we fabricated hole diameter 1, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1 mm using precision manufacturing. Experimental results show that pressure gradient efficiency of Knudsen pump is increased to maximum 82% according to Knudsen number and thick membranes are more effective than thin membranes in transition flow regime.