• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.14-19
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• 2008

Effects of the Reynolds and Knudsen numbers on a micro-viscous pump are studied by using a Navier-Stokes code based on a finite volume method. The micro viscous pump consists of a circular rotor and a two-dimensional channel. The channel walls are treated by using a slip velocity model. The Reynolds number is studied in the range of $0.1{\sim}50$. The Knudsen number varies from 0.01 to 0.1. Numerical solutions show that the pump works efficiently when two counter rotating vortices formed on both sides of the rotor have the same size and intensity. As the Reynolds number increases, the size and intensity of the vortex on the inlet side of the pump decrease. It disappears when the Reynolds number is larger than about Re=20. The characteristics of the performance of the pump is shown to deteriorate, in terms of mean velocity and pressure rise, as the Reynolds number increases. The Knudsen number shows a different effect on the characteristics of the pump. As it increases, the mean velocity and pressure rise decrease but the characteristics of the vortex flow remains unchanged, unlike the effect of Reynolds number.

• 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.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.8-18
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• 2001

The direct simulation Monte Carlo Method is applied to investigate the two-dimensional flow fields of a turbomolecular pump(TMP) in both molecular and transition flow regions. The pumping characteristics of the TMP are investigated for a wide range of the Knudsen number. The maximum of compression ratio and of pumping speed strongly depend on the Knudsen number in transition region, while they weakly depend on the Knudsen number in free molecular flow region. The present numerical results show good agreement with the previously known experimental data. Finally. the results of the single blade row in both molecular and transition regions are used to predict the overall performance of a TMP, which has three kinds of blade with 24-rows.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.866-870
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• 2008

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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.382-391
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• 2008

A simple analytical model of rarefied channel flow is developed to predict the compression ratio in a helical drag pump. If the surface velocity is zero, the model reduces to a capillary leaks. Predictions of our model agree well with the Knudsen's data for capillary leaks in transition flow, in addition to giving a good account of the Knudsen minimum. Also, the present results are compared with experimental data, and good agreement is obtained over the entire pressure range from molecular to slip flow.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 2000

The performance of a turbomolecular pump(TMP) in both molecular and transition flow regions is predicted by the numerical solutions of the Boltzmann equation obtained by the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The compression characteristics of the TMP are investigated for a wide range of the Knudsen number( Kn ). The maximum compression ratios strongly depend on Kn in transition region, while do they weakly on Kn in free molecular flow region. The present numerical results of the single blade row in both molecular and transition regions are used to predict the overall performance of a TMP, which has three kinds of blade with 24-rows.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.27-33
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• 2007

Rarefied gas flows through two-dimensional micro channels are studied numerically for the performance optimization of a nanomembrane-based Knudsen compressor. The effects of the wall temperature distributions on the thermal transpiration flow patterns are examined. The flow has a pumping effect, and the mass flow rates through the channel are calculated. The results show that a steady one-way flow is induced for a wide range of the Knudsen number. The DSMC(direct simulation Monte Carlo) method with VHS(variable hard sphere) model and NTC(no time counter) techniques has been applied in this work to obtain numerical solutions. A critical element that drives Knudsen compressor Is the thermal transpiration membrane. The membranes are based on aerosol or machined aerogel. The aerogel is modeled as a single micro flow channel.