• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.54-61
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• 2004

Miniaturization of subsystems including propulsion systems is recent trends in spacecraft technology. Small space vehicle propulsion is not only a technological challenge of a scaling system down, but also a combination of fundamental flow/combustion constraints. In this paper, physical constraints of micronozzle for cold gas micro-thruster are reviewed and discussed. Method to measure small thrust are also described.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.780-789
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• 2008

A new method for measuring the performance of a micro-thruster is suggested in this paper. A few thrust stands have been developed for measuring micro-level thrusts. This paper describes a different measurement method that can minimize the calibration involved in the measurements, while providing the capability of directly measuring the produced minimum impulse bit directly. The underlying theory and the theoretical background for the measurement mechanism are described here. The theory and method is verified using a computer simulation, and the result is given in this paper. The theory has also been tested on an actual hardware. Although this hardware is a prototype, developed for proof-of-concept analysis, satisfactory results have been obtained.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2009

In this article, we fabricated polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) nozzle treated by ion beam, in order to fabricate polymer based electrospray micro thruster with super hydrophobic nozzle. To obtain the super hydrophobic surface, PTFE surface is treated by argon and oxygen plasma treatment process. The optimal condition is investigated argon and oxygen flow rate as well as the paalied energy level for the treatment process. Fabricated nozzle was evaluated by measuring contact angle, and the surface morphology was examined by using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and atomic force microscope(AFM). We observe that jetting becomes more stable and repeatable on the treated nozzle. And to evaluate performance of fabricated nozzle, we measure micro scale thrust using a cantilever and a nozzle treated by ion beam laser displacement sensor.

• 한국연소학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.237-240
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• 2002

Micro catalytic reactors are alternative propulsion device that can be used on a nano satellite. When used with a monopropellant, $H_2O_2$, a micro catalytic reactor needs only one supply system as the monopropellant reacts spontaneously on contact with catalyst and releases heat without external ignition, while separate supply lines for fuel and oxidizer are needed for a bipropellant rocket engine. Additionally, $H_2O_2$ is in liquid phase at room temperature, eliminating the burden of storage for gaseous fuel and carburetion of liquid fuel. In order to design a micro catalytic reactor, an appropriate catalyst material must be selected. Considering the safety concern in handling the monopropellants and reaction performance of catalyst, we selected hydrogen peroxide at volume concentration of 70% and perovskite redox catalyst of lantanium cobaltate doped with strondium. Perovskite catalysts are known to have superior reactivity in reduction-oxidation chemical processes. In particular, lantanium cobaltate has better performance in chemical reactions involving oxygen atom exchange than other perovskite materials. In the present study, a process to prepare perovskite type catalyst, $La_{0.8}Sr_{0.2}CoO_3$, and measurement of its propellant decomposition performance in a test reactor are described.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.145-148
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• 2006

In order to design a micro-thruster which controls the altitude of a space vehicle for a very long lifetime, the flow field should be analyzed considering the nozzle geometry and the difference between stagnation and environmental pressures and so on. This paper describes the axisymmetric non-reacted computational results which were carried out to understand the basic flow phenomena according to the high nozzle pressure ratio. The area ratio is about 56 and the diameter of a nozzle exit is about 0.46 inch. The Mach cell and waves are predicted well.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.249-252
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• 2006

We conducted the experiment to analyze characteristics of micro-nozzle using different cold gas under two different nozzle expansion ratios in low vacuum condition. We measured thrust and chamber pressure and mass flow rate under low vacuum condition, and then compared them with those in ambient pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

The performance of a MEMS solid propellant thruster was predicted and analyzed through internal ballistics model and CFD analysis. The nozzle throat was $416{\mu}m$, and the area ratio of the nozzle was 1.85. As a result of the internal ballistics model, chamber pressure increased up to 197 bar and the maximum thrust was 3,836 mN. In CFD analysis, the chamber pressure of the internal ballistics model was applied as the operating pressure, and the CFD model was divided into an adiabatic and a heat loss model. As a result, the maximum thrust of the adiabatic model was 14.92% lower than that of the internal ballistics model, and the effect of heat loss was insignificant.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.12a
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• pp.477-481
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• 2002

This paper reports on the development of micro power system component under way at Seoul National University. The need of micro power system is explained and components of micro power system are described. The developments of hydrogen-air micro combustor, micro igniter based poly-silicon heater and micro thruster are described. To manufacture 3-D micro structure the process that manufactures high aspect ratio structures has been developed and optimized. Design, fabrication, and experiment processes are introduced and technical challenges in each phase are described.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.84-89
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• 2011

A Xenon Feed System (XFS) has been developed for hall-effect thruster to small satellite space-propulsion system applications. The XFS delivers low pressure gas to the Anode and Cathode of thruster head unit from a xenon storage tank. Accurate throttling of the propellant mass flow rate is independently required for each channel of the thruster head unit. The mass flow rate to each channel is controlled using the accumulator tank pressure regulation through a micron orifice and isolation valve. This paper discusses the Xenon Feed System design including the component selections, performance estimation and functional test.