Published in

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 2(13), p. 165-175, 2004

DOI: 10.1109/jmems.2004.825309

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

MEMS-Based Solid Propellant Microthruster Design, Simulation, Fabrication, and Testing

Journal article published in 2004 by Kaili Zhang ORCID, S. K. Chou, Simon S. Ang
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

A new design concept of solid propellant microthruster is proposed for micropropulsion applications. Modeling and simulation have been performed before the fabrication of the microthrusters using MEMS technologies. At sea level, the predicted thrust magnitudes range from 0.76 mN to 4.38 mN and the estimated total impulses range from 1.16×10-4 N·s to 4.37×10-4 N·s using HTPB/AP/AL as the propellant. In space, the predicted thrust magnitudes range from 9.11 mN to 26.92 mN and the estimated total impulses range from 1.25×10-3 N·s to 1.70×10-3 N·s. Single microthruster, microthruster layers and arrays have been successfully fabricated. Preliminary testing for microcombustion is conducted to verify the feasibility of the novel design. Continuous combustion has been achieved after igniting the solid propellant and successful production of thrust has been verified by the microthruster displacement.