Descripción del proyecto
Motores alimentados con yodo para propulsar satélites
En medio del dinámico entorno del mercado de satélites, el propulsor de campo de cúspide avanzado alimentado con yodo (iFACT, por sus siglas en inglés) pretende alterar el «statu quo» de la tecnología de propulsión eléctrica. Airbus desarrolló en 2017 el propulsor de campo de cúspide avanzado (ACFT, por sus siglas en inglés), cuyas prestaciones representan un potencial significativo de simplicidad, eficiencia y bajo coste en los subsistemas de propulsión eléctrica. El propulsor es fácil de encender y está optimizado para funcionar con yodo, y ya ha demostrado excelentes resultados de rendimiento. En el marco del proyecto iFACT, financiado con fondos europeos, se estudiará, entre otros temas, la posibilidad de emplear el yodo como nuevo propergol y de que el ACFT constituya el principal tipo de propulsor para sustituir a la tecnología actual.
Objetivo
Since several years, the industrialisation of the satellite market has been accelerated. In particular, the market for telecom satellites has changed significantly, because of several new players and numerous plans for satellite constellations, such as OneWeb or Starlink.
In order to increase competitiveness and to disrupt the electric propulsion market, we are proposing the development of the iodine Fed Advanced Cusp field Thruster (iFACT).
iFACT consists of an Advanced Cusp Field Thruster (ACFT), a simple PPU, a thermionic Emitter, a novel propellant feeding architecture, which is optimised for iodine. The ACFT has been invented by Airbus in 2017. Due to its simplicity, paired with efficiency, the fact that it is easy to ignite and its excellent performance data with iodine, it is tailored as key element for an extremely simple, efficient and low cost Electric Propulsion Subsystem (EPS). The baseline thruster (300 W input power) can be used with a simple thermionic cathode. The simple operation of the ACFT enables a reduced (wrt. number of parts and control circuits) but efficient PPU. This components are paired with an unique iodine feeding architecture which is capable to disrupt the electric propulsion market.
Based on this, the proposal will focus on:
- Iodine as disruptive propellant for electric thruster,
- maturation of the Advanced Cusp Field Thruster (ACFT) as disruptive thruster principle, in three different power classes,
- development of an novel, disruptive, extremly simplified low cost Power Processing Unit (PPU),
- use of calcium aluminate (C12A7) as disruptive, low-work function emitter material for cathodes,
- development of an European Iodine compatible long firing test facility.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Convocatoria de propuestas
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaConvocatoria de subcontratación
H2020-SPACE-2019
Régimen de financiación
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinador
82024 Taufkirchen
Alemania