• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.42-49
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• 2007

In this study, we analyzed flow characteristics of micro-nozzles for basic research to develop micro propulsion system. Cold gas propulsion system was used, and micro-nozzles having nozzle throat diameters of 1.0, 0.5, 0.25 mm were fabricated with EDM method. Thrust was measured through the use of plate-spring and strain gage based thrust measurement system, and flow characteristics of micro-nozzles were analyzed under ambient condition and vacuum condition. We used argon and nitrogen gases as propellant, and compared experimental results with CFD analysis. From the result, we verified the flow losses of viscosity and back-pressure caused by minimization of nozzle.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.25-29
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• 2007

Minimization of conventional propulsion device has been studied for altitude control of micro satellite. We studied micro nozzle performance and found higher significant loss for a micro nozzle with smaller nozzle throat diameter. To overcome this loss, we proposed thermal transpiration based micro propulsion system. This new system has no moving parts and can control flow by temperature gradient, and this can be an option for potential new micro propulsion system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• v.y2005m4
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• pp.381-385
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• 2005

Recently, spacecraft technology trends can be expressed three words, i.e. 'faster, cheaper and smaller'. Among these systems, micro propulsion device is an essential component. Also micro nozzle is the most important part in the micro propulsion device. In case of cold-gas thruster, micro nozzle converts the stored energy in a pressurized gas into kinetic energy through expansion ratio. In this paper we report characteristics of micro nozzle with throat expansion ratio and ratio of specific heats. We measure thrusts using strain gauge based thrust measurement system. We can estimate the micro nozzle performance through experiments.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.278-281
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• 2005

This paper present a study of size effect on electrostatic colloid micro thruster. According to results about size effect experiments indicates that the proposed mechanism allows at less than 500 volt of operating voltage for the micro thruster.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.483-490
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• 2008

Minimization of nozzle induces many flow losses in micro-propulsion system. In this study, we studied about thermal transpiration based micro propulsion system to overcome these losses. Thermal transpiration device(Knudsen pump) having no moving parts can self-pump the gaseous propellant by temperature gradient only (cold to hot). We designed, fabricated the Knudsen pump and analyzed pressure gradient efficiency of membrane according to Knudsen number under vacuum condition. Experimental results showed that thick membranes are more effective than thin membranes in transition flow regime, and pressure gradient efficiency according to Knudsen number is increased to maximum 82% apart from membrane thickness in free molecular regime.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.173-177
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• 2004

This paper presents a novel mechanism of electrostatic micro thruster using based on a layered electrode structure of nozzle. A comparison between experiment and simulation studies indicates that the proposed mechanism allows at less than 100 volt of operating voltage for the micro thruster.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.36-40
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• 2008

Minimization of nozzle induces many flow losses in micro-propulsion system. In this study, we studied about thermal transpiration based new conceptual micro propulsion system to overcome these losses. Thermal transpiration device(Knudsen pump) having no moving parts can self-pump the gaseous propellant by temperature gradient only (cold to hot). We designed, fabricated the knudsen pump and analyzed pressure gradient efficiency of membrane according to Knudsen number under vacuum condition. In this paper, we compared mass flow rate of Knudsen pump by using different membrane type ; Polyimide and Hangi, Korean traditional paper.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.45-48
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• 2007

Conventional force sensors such as piezoelectric sensor has limitations for measuring micro/nano-scale thrust. In this study we developed nano-scale measurement system using laser displacement sensor and cantilever. And electrospray microthruster was fabricated by using stainless capillary and extraction electrode, to generate nano-scale thrust. The measurement system can measure the around 90 nN thrust from this thruster. In addition, we designed and fabricated electrospray micro thruster based on PMMA(Polymethyl methacrylate), which has a nozzle protruded from the substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• v.y2005m4
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• pp.39-43
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• 2005

In this paper, we describe the contents of the achievement of basic experiments for manufacturing and evaluating a micro-rocket using solid propellant, as the device of the micro thrust generator which can be used for attitude control of satellites. We try to analyze performance of the rocket through visualization of the motor jet, and adopt various ignition methods to obtain confidence in ignition problem. For this purpose, we develop and test two different types of thrust measurement system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.76-79
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• 2007

From the previous researches about flow characteristic of micro-nozzle， we found that viscosity and back pressure induced heavy losses in micro nozzle. To overcome thess losses, we began to study new conceptual micro propulsion system that is thermal transpiration based micro propulsion system. It has no moving parts and can pump the gaseous propellant by temperature gradient only (cold to hot). Most of previous research on thermal transpiration is in its early stage and mainly studied for application to small vacuum facility or gas chromatography in ambient condition using nanoporous material like aerogel. In this study, we focus on basic research of propulsion system based on thermal transpiration using polyimide material in vacuum conditions.