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Development of Long-Lifetime Pulsed Gas Valves for Pulsed Electric ThrustersThe design and test results for two types of pulsed gas valves are presented. The valves, a piezo valve and a solenoid actuated valve, must have exceedingly long lifetime to support gas-fed pulsed electric thruster operation for missions of interest. The performance of both valves was tested, with both demonstrating the capability to throttle the gas flow rate while maintaining low leakage levels below 10(exp -3) sccs of He at the beginning of valve lifetime. The piezo valve varies the flow rate by changing the amount that the valve is open, which is a function of applied voltage. This valve demonstrated continuous throttlability from 0-10 mL/s, with opening and closing times of 100 microsecond or less. The solenoid actuated valve flow rate changes as a function of the inlet gas pressure, with demonstrated flow rates in these tests from 2.7-11 mL per second. The valve response time is slower than the piezo valve, opening in 1-2 ms and closing in several ms. The solenoid actuated valve was tested to one million cycles, with the valve performance remaining relatively unchanged throughout the test. Galling of the sliding plunger caused the valve to bind and fail just after one million cycles, but at this point in the test the valve sealing surface leak rate still appeared to be well below the maximum target leak rake of 1×10(exp -3) sccs of He.
Document ID
20150016549
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Burkhardt, Wendel M.
(Wask Engineering Cameron Park, CA, United States)
Crapuchettes, John M.
(Wask Engineering Cameron Park, CA, United States)
Addona, Brad M.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Polzin, Kurt A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 27, 2015
Publication Date
July 27, 2015
Subject Category
Quality Assurance And Reliability
Report/Patent Number
M15-4747
Report Number: M15-4747
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: July 27, 2015
End Date: July 29, 2015
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX14CM33P
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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