• 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.

• 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.

• 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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• 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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• 2010.11a
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• pp.618-619
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• 2010

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 measured presented pumping efficiency of Knudsen pump according to Hanji membrane.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03b
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• pp.405-408
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• 2008

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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.361-364
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• 2009

Vacuum facility is required for high altitude space environment test to develop small thruster to be applied for micro-satellite. After selecting vacuum equipment and integrating the chamber to simulate 100-120km attitude with max, $10^{-5}\;torr$. We tested the performance of high vacuum chamber. We designed, fabricated the knudsen pump and analyzed pressure gradient efficiency of membrane according to Knudsen number under vacuum conditions. We described the upgrade plan to a thermal vacuum chamber.