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Hydrocarbon-Seeded Ignition System for Small Spacecraft Thrusters Using Ionic Liquid Propellants"Green" propellants based on Ionic-liquids (ILs) like Ammonium DiNitramide and Hydroxyl Ammonium Nitrate have recently been developed as reduced-hazard replacements for hydrazine. Compared to hydrazine, ILs offer up to a 50% improvement in available density-specific impulse. These materials present minimal vapor hazard at room temperature, and this property makes IL's potentially advantageous for "ride-share" launch opportunities where hazards introduced by hydrazine servicing are cost-prohibitive. Even though ILs present a reduced hazard compared to hydrazine, in crystalline form they are potentially explosive and are mixed in aqueous solutions to buffer against explosion. Unfortunately, the high water content makes IL-propellants difficult to ignite and currently a reliable "coldstart" capability does not exist. For reliable ignition, IL-propellants catalyst beds must be pre-heated to greater than 350 C before firing. The required preheat power source is substantial and presents a significant disadvantage for SmallSats where power budgets are extremely limited. Design and development of a "micro-hybrid" igniter designed to act as a "drop-in" replacement for existing IL catalyst beds is presented. The design requires significantly lower input energy and offers a smaller overall form factor. Unlike single-use "squib" pyrotechnic igniters, the system allows the gas generation cycle to be terminated and reinitiated on demand.
Document ID
20140002966
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Whitmore, Stephen A. (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Merkley, Daniel P. (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Eilers, Shannon D. (Utah State Univ. Logan, UT, United States)
Taylor, Terry L. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
April 15, 2014
Publication Date
August 10, 2013
Subject Category
Propellants And Fuels
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
SSC13-VII-6
M13-2688
Meeting Information
Meeting: Annual USU/AIAA Conference on Small Satellites
Location: Logan, UT
Country: United States
Start Date: August 10, 2013
End Date: August 15, 2013
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNZ12AN12G
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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