Multi-fluid laser plasma microthruster

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of laser and material application, specifically, a multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster, including a laser, a laser height adjustment mechanism, a multi-fluid system and a fluid conversion mechanism, wherein the laser height adjustment mechanism is provided with a liftable support platform, the laser is arranged on the support platform and is aligned with the multi-fluid system, the multi-fluid system includes a fixed frame and a material fixing plate provided with different fluids, each material fixing plate is arranged in the fixed frame, and the fixed frame is driven to rotate by the fluid conversion mechanism. The present invention can convert the material fixing plate of different fluids and the laser to function as needed, so that different fluids can be used to achieve the adjustment of specific impulse, thrust and impulse to meet application requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of laser and material application, in particular to a multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster. Background Art

[0002] Since the beginning of the 21st century, the world's space activities have shown a new trend of vigorous development. With the acceleration of human exploration of outer space and the rapid rise in the popularity of commercial space, major space powers have attached more and more importance to the development of technologies such as micro-satellites and satellite constellations. However, due to the limited structural mass and power load of micro-satellites, it is difficult to meet the application requirements of attitude and orbit control using conventional chemical propulsion and electric propulsion methods. Therefore, finding a suitable propulsion device for micro-satellites has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0003] Facing the urgent need for attitude and orbit control power of micro-satellites, laser propulsion technology came into being. Since the birth of the concept of laser propulsion, laser propulsion technology has been undergoing new changes from concept to realization, from theory to application, and from model to product. With the continuous development of laser propulsion technology, the application field of laser propulsion has also been continuously expanded: from the initial idea of ​​launching into orbit, to the removal of debris in the space field, satellite orbit transfer, attitude control, and near-space propulsion missions, etc. Among them, the use of laser plasma micro-propulsion as an application technology for attitude and orbit control of micro-satellites has attracted much attention from industry insiders.

[0004] Laser plasma micro-thrusters have the advantages of small mass, small size, low power consumption, simple structure and high reliability. In essence, they are micro-thrusters that use focused lasers to ablate the working fluid surface to generate plasma and tiny ejecta to generate thrust. Currently, the lasers used in laser propulsion are mostly solid lasers, carbon dioxide lasers and semiconductor lasers. However, due to the large size and power of the former two, they are generally suitable for launch applications in low-Earth orbit. Therefore, laser plasma micro-thrusters generally use semiconductor lasers with small size, weight and energy consumption. The working fluid for laser ablation can be solid, liquid and gas. Although studies have shown that liquid and gas working fluids have some good performance in laser propulsion, both of these working fluids require containers of a certain volume for storage and corresponding supply equipment, which invisibly increases the mass, volume and structural complexity of the thruster. Therefore, solid working fluids with simple volume structure and easy installation are still the first choice for current laser plasma micro-thrusters. Solid working fluids will also show different specific impulses and impulse coupling coefficients due to differences in molecular weight, ionization threshold, and thermal conductivity. For example, ablating metal working fluids will produce a large specific impulse, while ablating high molecular polymer working fluids will produce a large impulse coupling coefficient. Energetic working fluid materials have good performance in both specific impulse and impulse coupling coefficients due to the dual effects of ignition mode and ablation mode. Therefore, if multiple types of solid working fluids can be used as propellants, it can not only meet the application requirements of laser plasma micro-thrusters with wide and controllable thrust, impulse, and specific impulse, but also complete space missions in more complex situations. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster, which can switch the material fixing plate and laser action with different working fluids as needed, so that different working fluids can be used to adjust the specific impulse, thrust and impulse to meet application requirements.

[0006] The objective of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] A multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster comprises a laser, a laser height adjustment mechanism, a multi-fluid system and a fluid conversion mechanism, wherein the laser height adjustment mechanism is provided with a liftable support platform, the laser is arranged on the support platform and is aligned with the multi-fluid system, the multi-fluid system comprises a fixed frame and a material fixing plate provided with different fluids, each material fixing plate is arranged in the fixed frame, and the fixed frame is driven to rotate by the fluid conversion mechanism.

[0008] The laser height adjustment mechanism includes a lifting drive motor, a lead screw and a ball screw platform. The lead screw is driven to rotate by the lifting drive motor. A nut is provided inside the ball screw platform and is sleeved on the lead screw. The bracket platform is fixed on the ball screw platform.

[0009] The working medium conversion mechanism includes a rotary drive motor, a rotating platform and a transmission assembly. The rotating platform is driven to rotate by the rotary drive motor, and the rotary drive motor transmits torque through the transmission assembly. The fixed frame is mounted on the rotating platform.

[0010] A central rotating rod is provided in the middle of the fixed frame, and the central rotating rod is driven to rotate by the working fluid conversion mechanism, a working fluid fixing seat is mounted on the lower end of the central rotating rod, a frame top plate is provided on the upper end of the central rotating rod, and each material fixing plate is evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the central rotating rod, and the lower end of the material fixing plate is connected to the working fluid fixing seat, and the upper end is connected to the frame top plate.

[0011] The working medium on the material fixing plate is metal, multi-molecule polymer or energetic material.

[0012] The laser height adjustment mechanism, the multi-fluid system and the fluid conversion mechanism are all arranged in a mounting frame, the mounting frame includes an upper cover plate and a base, and the laser height adjustment mechanism and the multi-fluid system are arranged between the upper cover plate and the base, and the fluid conversion mechanism is arranged on the base.

[0013] A rotating power supply controller and a control power supply matched with the laser are arranged on the upper side of the base, and a lifting power supply controller is arranged inside the base.

[0014] A guide rod is provided on one side of the mounting frame, and a laser height adjustment mechanism is provided with a liftable ball screw platform, and one end of the ball screw platform is sleeved on the guide rod, and the bracket platform is fixed on the ball screw platform.

[0015] The advantages and positive effects of the present invention are:

[0016] 1. The present invention utilizes a working fluid conversion mechanism to drive a material fixing plate with different working fluids in a multi-working fluid system to convert and align the laser, thereby utilizing different working fluids to adjust specific impulse, thrust and impulse to meet application requirements.

[0017] 2. The present invention utilizes a laser height adjustment mechanism to adjust the working fluid of the laser acting on different positions on the material fixing plate, thereby improving the working fluid utilization efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0019] Among them, 1-laser; 2-control power supply; 3-screw; 4-ball screw stage; 5-lifting drive motor; 6-lifting power controller; 7-guide rod; 8-bracket stage; 9-bolt; 10-material fixing plate; 11-fixed frame; 12-working fluid fixing seat; 13-rotating table; 14-rotating drive motor; 15-rotating power controller; 16-center rotating rod; 17-upper cover plate; 18-base. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention includes a laser 1, a laser height adjustment mechanism, a multi-fluid system and a fluid conversion mechanism, wherein the laser height adjustment mechanism is provided with a liftable support platform 8, the laser 1 is arranged on the support platform 8 and is aligned with the multi-fluid system, the multi-fluid system includes a fixed frame 11 and a material fixing plate 10 provided with different working fluids, and each material fixing plate 10 is arranged in the fixed frame 11, and the fixed frame 11 is driven to rotate by the fluid conversion mechanism to make different material fixing plates 10 aligned with the laser 1 as needed and make the working fluid materials thereon react with the laser.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the laser height adjustment mechanism includes a lifting drive motor 5, a screw 3 and a ball screw platform 4. The screw 3 is driven to rotate by the lifting drive motor 5. The ball screw platform 4 is provided with a nut sleeved on the screw 3. The lifting drive motor 5 drives the screw 3 to rotate, and then drives the ball screw platform 4 to move up and down. The bracket platform 8 is fixed to the ball screw platform 4 by bolts 9.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the working medium conversion mechanism includes a rotary drive motor 14, a rotating platform 13 and a transmission assembly, wherein the rotating platform 13 is driven to rotate by the rotary drive motor 14, and the rotary drive motor 14 transmits torque through the transmission assembly. In this embodiment, the transmission assembly can adopt a gear structure, wherein a driving gear is driven to rotate by the rotary drive motor 14, a driven gear meshing with the driving gear is coaxially fixedly connected with the rotating platform 13, and the fixing frame 11 is arranged on the rotating platform 13.

[0024] like Figure 1As shown, a central rotating rod 16 is provided in the middle of the fixed frame 11, and the lower end of the central rotating rod 16 is fixedly connected to the rotating table 13, the lower end of the central rotating rod 16 is provided with a working medium fixing seat 12, and the upper end of the central rotating rod 16 is provided with a frame top plate, and each material fixing plate 10 is evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the central rotating rod 16, and the lower end of the material fixing plate 10 is connected to the working medium fixing seat 12, and the upper end is connected to the frame top plate, and the length of the material fixing plate 10 needs to be less than the length of the central rotating rod 16.

[0025] In this embodiment, the working fluid on each material fixing plate 10 can be a metal (such as aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, etc.), a multi-molecular polymer (such as polyformaldehyde resin, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, etc.) or an energetic material (such as double-base propellant, polyvinyl nitrate, glycidyl ether, etc.), including at least two or more different materials.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown, the laser height adjustment mechanism, the multi-fluid system and the working fluid conversion mechanism are all arranged in a mounting frame, and the mounting frame includes an upper cover plate 17 and a base 18, and the laser height adjustment mechanism and the multi-fluid system are arranged between the upper cover plate 17 and the base 18, and the working fluid conversion mechanism is arranged on the base 18.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the base 18 is provided with a control power supply 2 matched with the laser 1. In this embodiment, the laser 1 is a small semiconductor laser, and the control power supply 2 is a power supply device integrating a controller and a laser power supply. The laser 1 can be controlled by the control power supply 2 to output lasers of different powers and forms. The laser 1 and the control power supply 2 form a laser system as the energy source of the present invention. The laser 1 and the control power supply 2 are commercially available products.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the base 18 is provided with a lifting power controller 6 for controlling the lifting drive motor 5 in the laser height adjustment mechanism, so that the control screw 3 rotates in the forward and reverse directions, thereby enabling the ball screw stage 4 to accurately lift and adjust the height. The lifting power controller 6 is a power supply device integrating a controller and a power supply, which is a commercially available product.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the base 18 is provided with a rotary power controller 15 for controlling the rotary drive motor 14 in the working medium conversion mechanism, so that the rotation angle of the rotating platform 13 can be precisely controlled. The rotary power controller 15 is a power supply device integrating a controller and a power source, and is a commercially available product.

[0030] like Figure 1As shown, a guide rod 7 is provided on one side of the mounting frame, the upper end of the guide rod 7 is fixedly connected to the upper cover plate 17, and the lower end is fixedly connected to the base 18, and one end of the ball screw platform 4 is sleeved on the guide rod 7 to achieve vertical lifting guidance.

[0031] The working principle of the present invention is:

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, when the present invention is working, the working fluid conversion mechanism drives the multi-working fluid system to rotate, so that the appropriate material fixing plate 10 is aligned with the laser 1 to produce an ideal specific impulse or thrust effect according to actual needs, and the laser 1 can be driven to rise and fall through the laser height adjustment mechanism, and can act on the working fluid at different positions on the corresponding material fixing plate 10 to improve the working fluid utilization efficiency. The laser generated by the laser 1 and the working fluid on the material fixing plate 10 drive the entire mounting frame to move, thereby realizing the thruster function.

Claims

1. A multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster, characterized in that: The invention comprises a laser (1), a laser height adjustment mechanism, a multi-working fluid system and a working fluid conversion mechanism, wherein the laser height adjustment mechanism is provided with a liftable support platform (8), the laser (1) is arranged on the support platform (8) and is aligned with the multi-working fluid system, the multi-working fluid system comprises a fixed frame (11) and a material fixing plate (10) provided with different working fluids, each material fixing plate (10) is arranged in the fixed frame (11), and the fixed frame (11) is driven to rotate by the working fluid conversion mechanism.

2. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser height adjustment mechanism comprises a lifting drive motor (5), a lead screw (3) and a ball screw platform (4); the lead screw (3) is driven to rotate by the lifting drive motor (5); a nut is provided inside the ball screw platform (4) and is sleeved on the lead screw (3); and the bracket platform (8) is fixed on the ball screw platform (4).

3. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The working fluid conversion mechanism comprises a rotary drive motor (14), a rotating platform (13) and a transmission assembly. The rotating platform (13) is driven to rotate by the rotary drive motor (14), and the rotary drive motor (14) transmits torque through the transmission assembly. The fixed frame (11) is arranged on the rotating platform (13).

4. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: A central rotating rod (16) is provided in the middle of the fixed frame (11), and the central rotating rod (16) is driven to rotate by the working fluid conversion mechanism. A working fluid fixing seat (12) is sleeved on the lower end of the central rotating rod (16), and a frame top plate is provided on the upper end of the central rotating rod (16). The material fixing plates (10) are evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the central rotating rod (16), and the lower ends of the material fixing plates (10) are connected to the working fluid fixing seat (12), and the upper ends are connected to the frame top plate.

5. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The working medium on the material fixing plate (10) is metal, multi-molecular polymer or energetic material.

6. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser height adjustment mechanism, the multi-fluid system and the fluid conversion mechanism are all arranged in a mounting frame, the mounting frame comprises an upper cover plate (17) and a base (18), the laser height adjustment mechanism and the multi-fluid system are arranged between the upper cover plate (17) and the base (18), and the fluid conversion mechanism is arranged on the base (18).

7. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 6, characterized in that: A rotating power supply controller (15) and a control power supply (2) matching the laser (1) are arranged on the upper side of the base (18), and a lifting power supply controller (6) is arranged inside the base (18).

8. The multi-fluid laser plasma micro-thruster according to claim 6, characterized in that: A guide rod (7) is provided on one side of the mounting frame, and a laser height adjustment mechanism is provided with a liftable ball screw platform (4), one end of the ball screw platform (4) is sleeved on the guide rod (7), and the bracket platform (8) is fixed on the ball screw platform (4).

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