Pulsed thrust measurements using electromagnetic calibration techniques

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments Vol. 82; no. 3; p. 035118
• Main Authors: Tang, Haibin, Shi, Chenbo, Zhang, Xin'ai, Zhang, Zun, Cheng, Jiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2011
• ISSN: 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/1.3567803

A thrust stand for accurately measuring impulse bits, which ranged from 10-1000 μN s using a noncontact electromagnetic calibration technique is described. In particular, a permanent magnet structure was designed to produce a uniform magnetic field, and a multiturn coil was made to produce a calibration force less than 10 mN. The electromagnetic calibration force for pulsed thrust measurements was linear to the coil current and changed less than 2.5% when the distance between the coil and magnet changed 6 mm. A pulsed plasma thruster was first tested on the thrust stand, and afterward five single impulse bits were measured to give a 310 μN s average impulse bit. Uncertainty of the measured impulse bit was analyzed to evaluate the quality of the measurement and was found to be 10 μN s with 95% credibility.