An ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of aerospace electric propulsion technology, and more specifically, to an ion electric propulsion waste material induced beam scintillation device, comprising a grid system, a ceramic support ring, an inhalation hole, a placement tank, a control valve, a high-pressure gas nozzle, a gas cylinder, and a pipeline, wherein: the grid system is arranged at the outlet end of the ion thruster; the ceramic support ring is arranged at the edge of the three grids of the grid system; the inhalation hole is arranged directly above the ceramic support ring; the placement tank is connected to the inhalation hole; the gas cylinder is a pressure xenon gas cylinder, which is respectively connected to the placement tank and the high-pressure gas nozzle through a control valve and a pipeline; the high-pressure gas nozzle includes a left high-pressure gas nozzle, a right high-pressure gas nozzle, and a bottom high-pressure gas nozzle; and the pipeline is a stainless steel metal pipeline. The present application realizes the random and irregular movement of metal waste material debris between the grid systems on the ground, providing an engineering feasible experimental device for ground-based simulation of waste material induced beam scintillation under the influence of space microgravity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of aerospace electric propulsion technology, and in particular to an ion electric propulsion excess-induced beam scintillation device. Background Art

[0002] Ion electric propulsion for space is an advanced aerospace propulsion technology. Its principle is to use space electrical energy to ionize propellant to produce high-density plasma, and then extract, accelerate and discharge the ions through a high-voltage grid system to generate thrust.

[0003] During the long-term operation of ion electric propulsion, high-energy ions will inevitably etch and bombard the metal discharge chamber and the gate, and the sputtered etched products will gradually deposit to produce debris and excess materials. Under the action of microgravity in space, the excess materials will move randomly and irregularly. If the excess materials with a size exceeding 1 mm enter the high-voltage grid, it will induce beam flicker, which will seriously cause damage to the grid or even failure, restricting the improvement of the life reliability of ion electric propulsion products and limiting the widespread application of ion electric propulsion.

[0004] The existing technology does not involve ground-based experimental devices for ion electric propulsion waste induced beam scintillation, resulting in insufficient understanding of the characteristics of waste induced beam scintillation and a lack of protective measures against waste induced beam scintillation. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides an ion electric propulsion waste induced beam scintillation device, which realizes the random and irregular movement of metal waste debris between grid systems on the ground, and provides an engineering feasible experimental device for waste induced beam scintillation under the influence of ground-based simulated space microgravity.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application provides an ion electric propulsion waste induced beam scintillation device, including a grid system, a ceramic support ring, a blowing hole, a placement tank, a control valve, a high-pressure gas nozzle, a gas cylinder and a pipeline, wherein: the grid system is arranged at the outlet end of the ion thruster; the ceramic support ring is arranged at the edge of the three grids of the grid system; the blowing hole is arranged directly above the ceramic support ring, for blowing metal waste into the grid system; the placement tank is connected to the blowing hole, for placing metal waste; the gas cylinder is a pressure xenon gas cylinder, which is connected to the placement tank and the high-pressure gas nozzle through a control valve and a pipeline respectively; the high-pressure gas nozzle includes a left high-pressure gas nozzle, a right high-pressure gas nozzle and a bottom high-pressure gas nozzle, the left high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the left middle edge of the ceramic support ring, the right high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the right middle edge of the ceramic support ring, and the bottom high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the bottom of the ceramic support ring; the pipeline is a stainless steel metal pipeline, which is used to connect the blowing hole, the placement tank, the control valve, the high-pressure gas nozzle and the gas cylinder to each other, so that the high-pressure gas can flow freely.

[0007] Furthermore, the blowing hole is communicated with the top of the ceramic support ring, and the diameter of the blowing hole is 5 mm to 6 mm.

[0008] Furthermore, the placement tank is a closed pressure tank provided with a switchable flange, and high-pressure gas can pass through both ends of the placement tank.

[0009] Furthermore, the excess metal placed inside the tank is irregular in shape, with an overall size of 1 mm to 5 mm and a thickness of ≤ 0.5 mm.

[0010] Furthermore, the high-pressure gas nozzle is conical, and its diameter is ≤0.5mm.

[0011] Furthermore, the left high-pressure gas nozzle and the right high-pressure gas nozzle both point inward and are placed at 45° to the horizontal plane; the bottom high-pressure gas nozzle includes 3 nozzles, the middle nozzle points directly upward and is placed vertically in the horizontal plane, and the left nozzle and the right nozzle both point inward and are placed at 45° to the horizontal plane.

[0012] Furthermore, the control valve is composed of a pressure reducing valve and a stop valve, and multiple groups are provided. Each group is controlled by a pulse switch and can be quickly opened and closed within ms.

[0013] The present invention provides an ion electric propulsion excess material induced beam scintillation device, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0014] This application realizes the random and irregular movement of metal debris between grid systems on the ground by blowing high-pressure gas into metal debris and spraying high-pressure gas from a nozzle to lift the metal debris, providing an engineering feasible experimental device for ground-based simulation of debris-induced beam flickering under the influence of microgravity in space. The device is simple and easy to operate, and the actual pulse operation time is controlled within the ms scale, which will not affect the normal extraction of the ion electric propulsion beam. The experimental results have extremely high credibility, which enhances the persuasiveness of the experimental results and provides a direct analytical means for research on improving the reliability of ion electric propulsion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The drawings that constitute part of this application are used to provide a further understanding of this application and make other features, objects and advantages of this application more apparent. The illustrative embodiment drawings of this application and their descriptions are used to explain this application and do not constitute an improper limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an ion electric propulsion excess material induced beam scintillation device provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the grid system and the ion thruster according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] In the figure: 1- grid system, 2- blowing hole, 3- placement tank, 4- control valve, 5- gas cylinder, 6- high-pressure gas nozzle, 7- piping, 8- ceramic support ring, 9- ion thruster. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0020] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequential order. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described here. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0021] In this application, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "center," "vertical," "horizontal," "transverse," and "longitudinal" indicate positions or locations based on the positions or locations shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily intended to better describe this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the devices, elements, or components indicated to having a specific orientation, or to being constructed or operated in a specific orientation.

[0022] Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to express other meanings besides indicating a position or location. For example, the term "on" may also be used to indicate a dependency or connection in certain circumstances. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0023] Additionally, the term "plurality" shall mean two or more.

[0024] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features of the embodiments in this application can be combined with each other. The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and in combination with the embodiments.

[0025] like Figure 1 As shown, the present application provides an ion electric propulsion waste induced beam scintillation device, comprising a grid system 1, a ceramic support ring 8, a blow-in hole 2, a placement tank 3, a control valve 4, a high-pressure gas nozzle 6, a gas cylinder 5, and a pipeline 7, wherein: the grid system 1 is arranged at the outlet end of the ion thruster 9; the ceramic support ring 8 is arranged at the edge of the three grids of the grid system 1; the blow-in hole 2 is arranged directly above the ceramic support ring 8, and is used to blow metal waste into the grid system 1; the placement tank 3 is connected to the blow-in hole 2, and is used to place metal waste; the gas cylinder 5 is a pressure xenon gas cylinder, which is controlled by the control valve 4 and pipeline 7 are connected to the placement tank 3 and the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 respectively; the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 includes a left high-pressure gas nozzle, a right high-pressure gas nozzle and a bottom high-pressure gas nozzle, the left high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the left middle edge of the ceramic support ring 8, the right high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the right middle edge of the ceramic support ring 8, and the bottom high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the bottom of the ceramic support ring 8; the pipeline 7 is a stainless steel metal pipeline, which is used to connect the blowing hole 2, the placement tank 3, the control valve 4, the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 and the gas cylinder 5 to each other, so that the high-pressure gas can flow freely.

[0026] Specifically, the ion electric propulsion waste induced beam scintillation device provided in the embodiment of the present application realizes the random and irregular movement of metal waste debris between the grid system 1 on the ground by blowing waste into the device with high-pressure gas and ejecting high-pressure gas from the nozzle to lift the metal waste. It provides an experimental device for the study of waste induced beam scintillation under the influence of microgravity in simulated space on the ground, and provides a direct analytical method for the research on improving the reliability of ion electric propulsion. Among them, Figure 2As shown, the grid system 1 is installed at the outlet end of the experimental test ion thruster 9 to simulate the grid environment of the experiment; the ceramic support ring 8 is arranged around the grid system 1, located at the edge of the three grids of the grid system 1, and is used to support and fix the blowing hole 2 and the high-pressure gas nozzle 6, so that the metal waste can move irregularly between the inside of the grid system 1; the blowing hole 2 is installed just above the top of the ceramic support ring 8, and is used to blow the metal waste in the placement tank 3 from above into the inside of the grid system 1; the inside of the placement tank 3 is mainly used to store and place the metal waste; the gas cylinder 5 is preferably a pressure xenon gas cylinder, which is mainly used to provide high-pressure gas. The high-pressure gas in the pressure xenon gas cylinder enters the placement tank 3 through the control valve 4 on the one hand, and the metal waste is placed The metal residue inside the tank 3 is blown into the grid system 1 through the blowing hole 2, and on the other hand enters the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 through the control valve 4, and is sprayed into the grid system 1 through the high-pressure gas nozzle 6, so that the metal residue inside is lifted between the grid systems 1 for random and irregular movement; the pipeline 7 is preferably a stainless steel metal pipeline, which is used for connecting various structures so that the high-pressure gas can flow freely; the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 is mainly used to spray the high-pressure gas in the gas cylinder 5 into the grid system 1, so that the metal residue inside the grid system 1 can move irregularly. In order to ensure all-round spraying, 3 groups of high-pressure gas nozzles 6 are set, which are respectively fixed on the left middle edge, right middle edge and bottom of the ceramic support ring 8.

[0027] Furthermore, the blow-in hole 2 is connected to the top of the ceramic support ring 8, and the diameter of the blow-in hole 2 is 5mm-6mm. In the embodiment of the present application, in order to ensure the accuracy of the experimental results, the blow-in hole 2 must be set directly above the top of the ceramic support ring 8 so that the metal residue can enter the grid system 1 through the blow-in hole 2; the diameter of the blow-in hole 2 is preferably 5.5mm. If the diameter is too large, it will not conform to the actual working conditions and environment of the simulation space. If the diameter is too small, it will not allow the metal residue to pass through. According to the diameter of the blow-in hole 2, the diameter of the pipeline 7 can be selected. The diameter of the pipeline 7 can be slightly larger than the diameter of the blow-in hole 2, preferably 6mm, to ensure that the metal residue inside the placement tank 3 can completely and smoothly pass through the pipeline 7 into the blow-in hole 2.

[0028] Furthermore, the placement tank 3 is a closed pressure tank provided with a switchable flange, and high-pressure gas can pass through both ends of the placement tank 3, mainly to be able to replenish the excess metal in the placement tank 3 at any time, and to use the high-pressure gas in the gas cylinder 5 to blow the excess metal through the pipeline 7 to the blowing hole 2.

[0029] Furthermore, the excess metal placed inside the tank 3 is irregular in shape, with an overall size of 1 mm to 5 mm and a thickness of 0.5 mm or less. In the embodiment of the present application, in order to match the actual application of vacuum space, the excess metal is irregular in shape, preferably with a size between 1 mm and 5 mm and a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.

[0030] Furthermore, the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 is conical, with a diameter of 0.5 mm or less. The shape of the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 is preferably conical to ensure that the gas pressure is sufficient to blow up and lift excess metal objects. The diameter of the nozzle is 0.5 mm or less, mainly to prevent excessive gas from being ejected from the nozzle and affecting the normal operation of the ion electric propulsion.

[0031] Furthermore, the left and right high-pressure gas nozzles are both pointed inward and placed at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal plane. The bottom high-pressure gas nozzle includes three nozzles, the middle nozzle is pointed directly upward and placed perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and the left and right nozzles are both pointed inward and placed at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal plane. High-pressure gas nozzles 6 are provided on the left, right, and bottom of the grid system 1, and preferably three bottom high-pressure gas nozzles 6 are provided. This is mainly to ensure that the high-pressure gas is sprayed in all directions without blind spots, to achieve multi-dimensional and multi-directional support of metal waste, and to ensure that the metal waste can randomly and irregularly move, thereby realizing a ground-based experimental simulation of beam scintillation induced by metal waste.

[0032] Furthermore, the control valve 4 is composed of a pressure reducing valve and a stop valve, and multiple groups are provided. Each group is controlled by a pulse switch and can be opened and closed quickly within ms. The control valve 4 is composed of a pressure reducing valve and a stop valve. The pressure reducing valve is mainly used to control the pressure of the gas ejected from the gas cylinder 5, and the stop valve is mainly used to control the on-off of the connecting pipeline 7. In the embodiment of the present application, four groups of control valves 4 are provided, one group is provided between the gas cylinder 5 and the placement tank 3, and the other three groups are provided between the gas cylinder 5 and the left high-pressure gas nozzle, the right high-pressure gas nozzle, and the bottom high-pressure gas nozzle, respectively. During the experiment, the valves are opened and closed according to the actual situation, thereby obtaining different random motion effects of the metal residue. In addition, each group of control valves 4 is controlled by a pulse switch and can be opened and closed quickly within ms, without affecting the normal extraction of the ion electric propulsion beam.

[0033] More specifically, in the experimental simulation of the ion electric propulsion waste induced beam scintillation device provided in the embodiment of the present application, in order to ensure the accuracy of the simulation results, the grid system 1, the ceramic support ring 8, the blowing hole 2 and the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 are arranged in the vacuum chamber, and the other structural components are arranged outside the vacuum chamber; then the ion thruster 9 is started, and when the ion thruster 9 is in steady-state operation, the metal waste that meets the experimental conditions is placed in the placement tank 3, the gas cylinder 5, the pressure reducing valve and the stop valve are opened, and the metal waste is quickly blown into the grid system 1 from the blowing hole 2, and at the same time, high-pressure gas is ejected into the grid system 1 through the high-pressure gas nozzle 6 to support the metal waste. The random and irregular motion between the grid system 1 is performed, and then the influence characteristics and evolution law of the metal excess on the beam scintillation in the ion electric propulsion process are observed and recorded by using an external beam scintillation monitoring device, which provides an engineering feasible experimental device for the beam scintillation induced by excess matter under the influence of microgravity in the ground simulated space, solves the problem of the irregular motion of metal excess matter in the high vacuum, weightlessness, strong electric field and plasma environment of the ground simulated space, overcomes the technical shortcoming that the experimental research on the beam scintillation induced by excess matter in ion electric propulsion has been impossible on the ground for a long time, and provides a basis for the study of the consistency of the beam scintillation induced by excess matter in ion electric propulsion between the sky and the earth.

[0034] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. An ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device, characterized in that: It includes a grid system, a ceramic support ring, an inflating hole, a placement tank, a control valve, a high-pressure gas nozzle, a gas cylinder and a pipeline, including: The grid system is arranged at the outlet end of the ion thruster; The ceramic support ring is arranged at the edge of the three grids of the grid system; The blowing hole is arranged just above the ceramic support ring and is used to blow excess metal into the grid system; The placement tank is connected to the blowing hole and is used to place excess metal; The gas cylinder is a pressure xenon gas cylinder, which is connected to the placement tank and the high-pressure gas nozzle respectively through a control valve and a pipeline; The high-pressure gas nozzle includes a left high-pressure gas nozzle, a right high-pressure gas nozzle and a bottom high-pressure gas nozzle, the left high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the left middle edge of the ceramic support ring, the right high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the right middle edge of the ceramic support ring, and the bottom high-pressure gas nozzle is arranged at the bottom of the ceramic support ring; The pipeline is a stainless steel metal pipeline, which is used for mutual communication between the blowing hole, the placement tank, the control valve, the high-pressure gas nozzle and the gas cylinder, so that the high-pressure gas can flow freely.

2. The ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The blowing hole is communicated with the top of the ceramic support ring, and the diameter of the blowing hole is 5 mm to 6 mm.

3. The ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage tank is a closed pressure tank provided with a switchable flange, and high-pressure gas can pass through both ends of the storage tank.

4. The ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The excess metal inside the placement tank is irregular in shape, with an overall size of 1mm-5mm and a thickness of ≤0.5mm.

5. The ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high-pressure gas nozzle is conical, and its diameter is ≤0.5mm.

6. The ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The left high-pressure gas nozzle and the right high-pressure gas nozzle both point inward and are placed at 45° to the horizontal plane; the bottom high-pressure gas nozzle includes three nozzles, the middle nozzle points directly upward and is placed vertically in the horizontal plane, and the left nozzle and the right nozzle both point inward and are placed at 45° to the horizontal plane.

7. The ion electric propulsion excess induced beam scintillation device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control valve is composed of a pressure reducing valve and a stop valve, and multiple groups are provided. Each group is controlled by a pulse switch and can be quickly opened and closed within ms.

Images