Flow regulating device and regulating method for a solid working substance storage and supply system

Abstract

The application relates to electric propulsion technology, and aims to solve the technical problems of low flow control precision and slow adjustment speed of an existing storage and supply unit, and provides a flow regulating device and a regulating method for a solid working medium storage and supply system. The flow regulating device comprises a regulating shell, input and output interfaces arranged at two ends of the regulating shell respectively, a working medium shunt cavity, a plurality of capillary tubes and a working medium rectifier cavity arranged in the regulating shell; the input end of the working medium shunt cavity is connected with the input interface, and the output end is connected with the input ends of the plurality of capillary tubes; the plurality of capillary tubes are arranged in parallel in the regulating shell, and the output end of each capillary tube is connected with the input end of the working medium rectifier cavity; the output end of the working medium rectifier cavity is connected with the output interface; the outer surface of each capillary tube is provided with a thermal control device, and the thermal control device on the capillary tube is correspondingly connected with an external temperature control system, and is used for providing different environment temperatures for the capillary tube according to different working medium flows.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to electric propulsion technology, in particular to a flow regulating device and regulating method for a solid propellant storage and supply system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electric propulsion technology refers to a technology that generates a high-speed jet flow by heating or ionizing a propellant through electric energy, so as to generate a reaction force; after nearly a century of development, new electric propulsion technologies are constantly updated and expanded, which has made significant progress in space electric propulsion technology, and in order to meet the development needs of new technologies and new environments, the types and quantities of electric propellants are also increasing.

[0003] Solid propellants have the advantages of normal pressure storage, no leakage, small size and light weight, the relative atomic weight of iodine in solid propellants is relatively high, the ionization energy is low, and the iodine element has a large reserve in nature, is cheap, is solid at room temperature, and has good storage performance. It is a good propellant that can be selected for electric thrusters such as ion thrusters and Hall thrusters.

[0004] The design idea of the existing solid propellant storage and supply system is that: the sublimation of the propellant in the storage tank is realized through the structure and thermal control design of the propellant storage tank, the gas state propellant is controlled by the flow of the pipeline and the valve device, reaches the discharge channel of the thruster, and then undergoes the next ionization action. There is often a complex pipeline layout and valve device between the storage tank and the discharge channel of the thruster to realize accurate control of the propellant flow; the structure of the existing solid propellant storage and supply unit is complex, the volume and weight are large, the flow control precision is low, the adjustment speed is slow, and there is a risk of pipeline blockage and unstable flow control. The flow transportation effect is poor, which cannot meet the modern high-precision control requirements. SUMMARY

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to solve the technical problems of the existing solid propellant storage and supply unit, such as complex structure, low flow control precision, slow adjustment speed, poor flow transportation effect, and easy to cause pipeline blockage and unstable flow control, and a flow regulating device and regulating method for a solid propellant storage and supply system are proposed.

[0006] To achieve the above purpose, the technical solution proposed by the present application is:

[0007] A flow regulating device for a solid propellant storage and supply system, comprising a regulating shell, the two ends of the regulating shell are respectively provided with an input interface matched with an external propellant storage tank and an output interface matched with an external thruster, and the special feature is that: a propellant shunt cavity, a plurality of capillary tubes and a propellant rectifier cavity are arranged in the regulating shell.

[0008] The input end of the working medium distribution cavity is connected with the input interface, and the output end is connected with the input end of the plurality of capillary tubes, for diffusing and distributing the working medium into the plurality of capillary tubes;

[0009] The plurality of capillary tubes are arranged in parallel in the adjusting shell, and the output end of each capillary tube is connected with the input end of the working medium rectifying cavity; the output end of the working medium rectifying cavity is connected with the output interface, for converging and outputting the working medium in the plurality of capillary tubes;

[0010] The outer surface of each capillary tube is provided with a thermal control device, for controlling the ambient temperature in each capillary tube;

[0011] The thermal control device on each capillary tube is connected with one external temperature control system, or the thermal control devices on a plurality of capillary tubes are connected with one external temperature control system, for providing different ambient temperatures for the capillary tubes according to different working medium flow rates.

[0012] Further, the inner diameter of each capillary tube is 0.3mm-1mm.

[0013] Further, the axial section of the working medium distribution cavity is rectangular or triangular, for providing different working medium flow rates for the capillary tubes.

[0014] Further, the thermal control device comprises a heating wire wound on the outer surface of the capillary tube, and the heating wire is connected with the external temperature control system through the side wall of the adjusting shell.

[0015] Further, the adjusting shell, the working medium distribution cavity, the plurality of capillary tubes and the working medium rectifying cavity are made of stainless steel.

[0016] Further, the capillary tubes are 2n, n≥2, two adjacent capillary tubes form a group, the thermal control devices on each group of capillary tubes are connected with one external temperature control system, and each external temperature control system provides different ambient temperatures for each group of capillary tubes according to different working medium flow rates.

[0017] Meanwhile, the application also provides a flow rate adjusting method for a solid working medium storage and supply system, which adopts the flow rate adjusting device for the solid working medium storage and supply system, and has the following steps:

[0018] Step one, connecting the input interface and the output interface of the adjusting shell with the external working medium storage tank and the external thruster respectively;

[0019] Step two, connecting the thermal control device on each capillary tube with one external temperature control system to form a plurality of groups of thermal control capillary tubes, or grouping a plurality of capillary tubes, and connecting the thermal control devices on each group of capillary tubes with one external temperature control system to form a plurality of groups of thermal control capillary tubes;

[0020] Step three, weighing the adjusting device and recording its initial weight m0, then putting the flow adjusting device into the vacuum test cabin;

[0021] Step four, setting the initial heating group number and heating power of each thermal control capillary, opening the external working medium storage tank, allowing the working medium to diffuse and branch into the capillary, closing the external working medium storage tank after time t, taking the flow adjusting device out of the vacuum test cabin and re-weighing, recording the corresponding actual weight m t , and calculating the corresponding working medium flow q in time t;

[0022] Step five, adjusting the heating group number and heating power of each thermal control capillary, and measuring the corresponding working medium flow q under different heating group numbers and heating powers according to the method of step four, to obtain the calibration results of the corresponding relationship between the heating group number, heating power and working medium flow;

[0023] Step six, according to the calibration results, selecting the corresponding heating group number and heating power of the thermal control capillary that meets the flow adjusting requirement, thereby completing the adjustment of the solid working medium flow.

[0024] Further, the initial weight m0, the actual weight m t , the time t and the working medium flow q satisfy the following formula:

[0025]

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present application are as follows:

[0027] 【1】The flow adjusting device for the solid working medium storage and supply system has a simple structure and is easy to process, which can realize effective transportation of solid working medium vapor and precision control of small flow by arranging the flow adjusting device between the external working medium storage tank and the thruster, and the solid working medium vapor flows through the working medium branch chamber, multiple capillaries and the working medium rectifier chamber in the flow adjusting device before flowing to the downstream thruster discharge chamber, wherein the arrangement of multiple capillaries effectively reduces the pipeline length and improves the transmission efficiency of gaseous solid working medium, the thermal control device connected to the multiple capillaries provides different heating temperatures for the capillaries, adjusts the temperature in the capillaries, realizes precise adjustment and control of the working medium flow, and effectively improves the flow control precision and adjustment precision of the device.

[0028] 【2】The present application realizes precise temperature control and adjustment of the capillary through one or more external temperature control systems, adjusts the sublimation amount of the solid working medium by adjusting the temperature in the capillary channel, and adjusts the opening degree of the capillary to meet the required environmental temperature of different working medium flows, realizes fine control of the flow in different orders of magnitude, and effectively improves the application range and practicality of the adjusting device.

[0029] 【3】The application can adjust the shape of the working medium shunt cavity according to different working medium flow, so that the capillary obtains different air intake, improves the device adjustment accuracy, saves the adjustment time, and effectively avoids the problems of pipeline blockage and unstable flow control of the adjustment device.

[0030] 【4】The operation steps of the flow regulation method for the solid working medium storage and supply system are simple and easy to implement, the working medium flow calibration result is obtained by providing different environment temperatures for the capillary, the use of the capillary is adjusted according to the working medium flow calibration result, so that the solid working medium flow meets the system requirements, and the working medium flow transportation effect is effectively improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is a structure schematic view of an embodiment of the flow regulation device for the solid working medium storage and supply system.

[0032] Reference signs:

[0033] 1-input interface, 2-working medium shunt cavity, 3-thermal control device, 4-capillary, 5-working medium rectifier cavity, 6-output interface, 7-regulation shell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] As shown in Figure 1 A flow regulation device for a solid working medium storage and supply system, comprising a regulation shell 7, the two ends of the regulation shell 7 are respectively provided with an input interface 1 connected with an external working medium storage tank and an output interface 6 connected with an external thruster, and the regulation shell 7 is provided with a working medium shunt cavity 2, a plurality of capillaries 4 and a working medium rectifier cavity 5; the input end of the working medium shunt cavity 2 is connected with the input interface 1, the output end is connected with the input end of the plurality of capillaries 4, and is used for diffusing and shunting working medium into the plurality of capillaries 4; the axial section of the working medium shunt cavity 2 is a rectangular or triangular or other structure cavity, by adjusting the shape structure of the working medium shunt cavity 2, the air intake obtained by different capillaries 4 can be changed, and then the working medium flow is changed, so as to provide different working medium flow for the capillary 4.

[0035] The output end of the working medium rectifier cavity 5 is connected with the output interface 6, and is used for converging and outputting the working medium in the plurality of capillaries 4;

[0036] A plurality of capillary tubes 4 are arranged in parallel in the adjusting shell 7, and the output end of each capillary tube 4 is connected with the input end of the working medium rectifying cavity 5; a thermal control device 3 is wound on the outer surface of each capillary tube 4, for controlling the ambient temperature in each capillary tube 4, and the thermal control device 3 comprises a heating wire wound on the outer surface of the capillary tube 4, which passes through the side wall of the adjusting shell 7 and is connected with an external temperature control system; the inner diameter of each capillary tube 4 is 0.3mm-1mm, and by designing capillary tubes 4 with different inner diameters, the throttling effect of the capillary tube 4 can be changed, thereby changing the working medium flow and improving the applicability of the device; if the inner diameter of the capillary tube 4 is not changed, the number of capillary tubes 4 can be changed, and different grouping arrangements of the capillary tubes 4 and the thermal control devices 3 thereon can be made to obtain different ambient temperatures, so as to realize accurate control of the flow of different orders of magnitude.

[0037] The thermal control device 3 on each capillary tube 4 is connected with one external temperature control system, or the thermal control devices 3 on a plurality of capillary tubes 4 are connected with one external temperature control system, for providing different ambient temperatures for the capillary tubes 4 according to different working medium flows, and the change of the ambient temperature in the capillary tube 4 is realized by adjusting the electric heating power of the external temperature control system, so as to adjust the gas pressure and flow rate of the solid working medium in the capillary tube 4; according to the flow regulation needs of different orders of magnitude, every several adjacent capillary tubes 4 are divided into a group, the thermal control devices 3 on the capillary tubes 4 in the same group are connected with the same external temperature control system, the external temperature control system has an independent temperature control function, the heating area and heating temperature of the thermal control device 3 are adjusted, so as to realize fine control of the flow of the solid working medium.

[0038] The adjusting shell 7, the working medium distribution cavity 2, the plurality of capillary tubes 4 and the working medium rectifying cavity 5 are all made of stainless steel material, which can effectively ensure the material compatibility of the adjusting device and the solid working medium, and can effectively improve the heat transfer efficiency of the thermal control device 3 and save the adjustment time.

[0039] The gaseous solid working medium is injected into the adjusting device from the external working medium storage tank through the input interface 1, the solid working medium flows into the working medium distribution cavity 2 under the action of gas pressure and continuously diffuses into the capillary tube 4, the working medium flow in the capillary tube 4 is controlled by the thermal control device 3 on the capillary tube 4, the gaseous working medium diffuses and converges in the working medium distribution cavity 2 and is finally injected into the discharge channel of the external thruster from the working medium distribution cavity 2, so as to realize the output of the micro flow of the working medium.

[0040] Meanwhile, the embodiment also proposes an adjusting method of the flow adjusting device for the solid working medium storage and supply system, which comprises the following steps:

[0041] Step one, connecting the input interface 1 and the output interface 6 of the adjusting shell 7 with the external working medium storage tank and the external thruster respectively;

[0042] Step two, connect the thermal control device 3 on each capillary 4 to an external temperature control system to form multiple groups of heat-controlled capillaries, or group multiple capillaries 4, and connect the thermal control device 3 on each group of capillaries 4 to an external temperature control system to form multiple groups of heat-controlled capillaries;

[0043] Step three, weigh the adjustment device and record its initial weight m0, then place the flow adjustment device into the vacuum test chamber;

[0044] Step four, set the initial heating group number and heating power of each heat-controlled capillary, open the external working medium storage tank, allow the working medium to diffuse and branch into the capillary 4, close the external working medium storage tank after a period of time t, take out the flow adjustment device from the vacuum test chamber and re-weigh it, and record the corresponding actual weight m t , and calculate the corresponding working medium flow q in time t;

[0045] The initial weight m0, the actual weight m t , the time t and the working medium flow q satisfy the following formula:

[0046]

[0047] Step five, adjust the heating group number and heating power of each heat-controlled capillary, and measure the corresponding working medium flow q under different heating group numbers and heating powers according to the method of step four, to obtain the calibration results of the corresponding relationship between the heating group number, the heating power and the working medium flow;

[0048] Step six, according to the calibration results, select the heating group number and heating power of the heat-controlled capillary that meets the flow adjustment requirement, to complete the adjustment of the solid working medium flow.

Claims

1. A flow regulating method for a solid working medium storage and supply system, using a flow regulating device for the solid working medium storage and supply system; the flow regulating device for the solid working medium storage and supply system comprises a regulating housing (7), the two ends of the regulating housing (7) are respectively provided with an input interface (1) adapted to be connected to an external working medium storage tank and an output interface (6) adapted to be connected to an external thruster, the regulating housing (7) is provided with a working medium diversion cavity (2), a plurality of capillaries (4) and a working medium rectification cavity (5); The input end of the working medium diversion chamber (2) is connected to the input interface (1), and the output end is connected to the input ends of a plurality of capillaries (4), and is used for diffusing the diversion working medium into the plurality of capillaries (4); The plurality of capillaries (4) are arranged in parallel in the regulating housing (7), and the output end of each capillary tube (4) is connected to the input end of the working medium rectifying cavity (5); the output end of the working medium rectifying cavity (5) is connected to the output interface (6) for converging and outputting the working medium in the plurality of capillaries (4); A thermal control device (3) is provided on the outer surface of each capillary tube (4) for controlling and adjusting the ambient temperature within each capillary tube (4); Each thermal control device (3) on the capillary tube (4) is connected to an external temperature control system, or the thermal control devices (3) on multiple capillary tubes (4) are connected to an external temperature control system, for providing different ambient temperatures for the capillary tubes (4) according to different working fluid flow rates; It is characterized by: The following steps are involved: Step 1: Connect the input interface (1) and the output interface (6) of the regulating housing (7) to the external working fluid storage tank and the external thruster respectively; Step 2: Connecting the thermal control device (3) on each capillary tube (4) to an external temperature control system to form multiple groups of thermal control capillaries, or grouping the multiple capillaries (4) and connecting the thermal control device (3) on each group of capillaries (4) to an external temperature control system to form multiple groups of thermal control capillaries; Step 3: Weigh the regulating device and record its initial weight as m0, then place the flow regulating device into the vacuum test chamber; Step 4: Set the initial heating group number and heating power of each thermal control capillary, open the external working fluid storage tank, and allow the working fluid to diffuse and flow into the capillary (4). After a time t, close the external working fluid storage tank, take the flow regulating device out of the vacuum test chamber and re-weigh it, and record the corresponding actual weight as m t , and calculate the corresponding working fluid flow q within time t; Step 5: Adjust the number of heating groups and heating power of each thermal control capillary. According to the method of step 4, measure the corresponding working fluid flow rate q of different heating group numbers under different heating power conditions, and obtain the calibration results of the corresponding relationship between the number of heating groups, heating power and working fluid flow rate; Step 6: Based on the calibration results, select the number of heating groups and heating power corresponding to the thermal control capillary that meets the flow regulation requirements, thereby completing the regulation of the solid working fluid flow.

2. A flow control method for a solid working fluid storage and supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The initial weight m0, actual weight m t , time t and working fluid flow rate q satisfy the following formula:

3. The flow rate regulation method for a solid working fluid storage and supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of each capillary (4) is 0.3 mm to 1 mm.

4. A flow rate regulation method for a solid working fluid storage and supply system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The axial cross-section of the working medium flow diversion cavity (2) is rectangular or triangular, and is used to provide different working medium flow rates for the capillary tube (4).

5. A flow rate regulation method for a solid working fluid storage and supply system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The thermal control device (3) comprises a heating wire wound on the outer surface of the capillary tube (4), and the heating wire passes through the side wall of the regulating shell (7) and is connected to the external temperature control system.

6. A flow rate regulation method for a solid working fluid storage and supply system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The regulating housing (7), the working medium flow diversion chamber (2), the plurality of capillaries (4) and the working medium flow rectification chamber (5) are all made of stainless steel.

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