Project results
Conference paper
Presented at the 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference Pierre Baudis Convention Center Toulouse, France, June 23-28, 2024
Fused Filament Fabrication of Alumina Components for Hall Thrusters
Abstract
Manufacturing and testing electric propulsion systems can be very expensive both in economic and time terms. One of the main limiting factors is the manufacturing of ceramic components, such as alumina. However, the advent of 3D printing has made it possible to produce complex-shaped components made of technical ceramics at low cost and in reduced time. This paper illustrates the advancements made by the University of Pisa in Fused Filament Fabrication of alumina components for electric propulsion purposes. Rapid prototyping can help not only in manufacturing thrusters in a faster and cheaper way but also in producing more complex geometries, resulting in more efficient thrusters. This manufacturing approach was already used in the framework of the CHEOPS-VHP-BB (Consortium for Hall Effect Orbital Propulsive System-Very High Power-Building Blocks) project to produce the insulating components of a high-current hollow cathode.
Authors
Guido Giammarinaro, Francesco Marconcini and Carla Guidi, University of Pisa, Department of Information Engineering, Italy
Francesco Tamburrino, Manuel M. Saravia, Armando V. Razionale and Fabrizio Paganucci, University of Pisa, Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Italy
Giulia Becatti, University of Stuttgart, Institute of Space Systems, Stuttgart, Germany
Conference paper
Presented at the 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference Pierre Baudis Convention Center Toulouse, France, June 23-28, 2024
Electric Propulsion Activities at the University of Pisa
Abstract
The University of Pisa (UniPi) has been carried out theoretical and experimental activities on Electric Propulsion with continuity for more than fifty years. Currently, UniPi is involved in several theoretical and experimental activities, of which the main ones are described in the paper. In the framework of the H2020 ASPIRE project, the development of models for studying instabilities and performance in Hall thrusters and cathodes has made significant progress with the introduction of a novel strategy for the automated calibration of the models, based on a Bayesian approach. The development of a high-power (up to 25 kW) Hall thruster with two coaxial channels with a magnetically shielded topology and the relevant hollow cathode (TANDEM project) has been almost completed with significant achievements. Started as an ESA TDE project, the activity is going ahead in the framework of the HORIZON CHEOPS-VHP-BB, with the development of a new cathode capable of operating with argon and the research of integrated configurations of anode and insulator by adopting additive manufacturing techniques. Theoretical and experimental activities on iodine as propellant are carried out. The study of an innovative laser-based mass flow meter is in progress in the framework of the HORIZON iFACT-MP project. The investigation on iodine fed hollow cathodes, in particular on the interaction between iodine and cathode components is also in progress in the framework of an ESA GSTP. The use of additive manufacturing techniques for rapid prototyping and mass production of electric thrusters is under investigation. In particular, significant results have been obtained for the manufacturing of magnetic circuits for Hall thrusters and ceramic (Alumina) components for thrusters and cathodes, while efforts are spent to develop techniques for the manufacturing of integrated metallic/ceramic components. Other activities (like the development of hollow cathodes based on diamond emitters) will be briefly described in the paper to complete the overview.
Authors
Fabrizio Paganucci and Mariano Andrenucci, University of Pisa, Italy
Conference paper
Presented at Space propulsion 2024, Glasgow, Scotland, 20 – 23 May, 2024
Development of a Hight-current cathode for the CHEOPS VHP BB project
Abstract
The paper illustrates the activity carried out by the University of Pisa (UniPi) and Aerospazio Tecnologie for the design and manufacturing of hollow cathodes for the CHEOPS-VHP-BB project (Consortium for Hall Effect Orbital Propulsive System-Very High Power-Building Blocks). The cathode design has been optimized to operate with argon and krypton, and to deliver currents ranging from 10 A to 100 A. The achievement of validation in relevant environment provides for a characterisation test, such as vibration test. Different heater and tube geometries, as well as manufacturing solutions have been considered. The adoption of additive manufacturing techniques has demonstrated a more compact solution can be obtained. At the present stage, the cathode, has been designed in detail, while material procurement and manufacturing are in progress.
Authors
- Guidi, F. Marconcini, G. Giammarinaro, Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy
- Becatti, Institute for Space Systems, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- M. Saravia, F. Paganucci, Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy
- Cannelli, U. Cesari, Aerospazio Tecnologie s.r.l. Italy