Piston electric propellant feed system

Abstract

The application provides a piston type electric injection propulsion storage and supply system, which comprises a storage unit and a driving unit; the storage unit is surrounded by a storage cavity, the driving unit has a driving part and a pressing part; the pressing part is arranged in the storage cavity and divides the storage cavity into a first storage area and a second storage area along the axial direction; the shape of the pressing part is similar to one end of the first storage area away from the second storage area, and the pressing part can completely fit the one end of the first storage area away from the second storage area. In the application, the resistance generated by the piston movement is constant during the supply process, so the change rate of the ion liquid area volume is constant when the pressure is constant, and the output flow also remains constant. The shape of the piston top is similar to the one end of the first storage area away from the second storage area, so that the ion liquid filled in the second storage area can be completely discharged from the second storage area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of aerospace technology, and in particular to piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage systems. Background Technology

[0002] Ion liquid electrospray thrusters possess comprehensive advantages such as simple structure, easy miniaturization, and high thrust control precision, making them highly promising for applications in attitude and orbit control of micro and nano satellites. The thrust of an ion liquid electrospray thruster is closely related to the mass of the propellant it emits; therefore, a storage and supply system with high-precision flow control capabilities is fundamental to achieving high-resolution thrust control.

[0003] The main function of an electrospray storage and supply system is to store and supply ionic liquid to the thruster at a set flow rate. Traditional electrospray thruster storage and supply systems include... Figure 1 As shown, its main structure consists of three parts: a pressure module, a storage module, and a valve module. The pressure module utilizes the characteristic of zeolite material 4' to adsorb and release CO2. It controls the temperature of zeolite material 4' by heating it with resistance wire 5', thereby controlling the adsorption and release of CO2 gas and regulating the gas pressure. The storage module includes a bellows storage tank 6'. The bellows storage tank 6' contains ionic liquid through a bellows-structured inner liner. Utilizing the compressibility of the bellows, under pressure, the bellows compresses and reduces its volume, thus expelling the ionic liquid. The valve module includes a miniature shut-off valve 9' used to control the start and stop of the ionic liquid transport to the thruster, typically using electromagnetic drive for switching. During operation, the power supply first supplies power to resistance wire 5', heating zeolite material 4' and causing CO2 gas release. The gas pressure inside the bellows storage tank 6' gradually increases, compressing the bellows structure. To control the stable pressure of CO2 gas, a pressure sensor 7' is used to measure the pressure inside the bellows storage tank 6'. A closed-loop control circuit is used to control the power supply to the resistance wire 5', thereby controlling the release and absorption of the gas. As the pressure increases, the bellows structure is gradually compressed, reducing its internal volume. The ionic liquid will be discharged from the bellows storage tank 6' and enter the transport pipeline. At this time, the control valve module is activated, allowing the liquid to flow through the valve module towards the thruster 8'.

[0004] Furthermore, in 2007, BUSEK designed an ionic liquid storage and supply system that uses mechanical compression to control the flow supply in its electro-spray thruster developed for the ST7 mission. Combined with... Figure 2 As shown, it uses four independent bellows tanks 6' installed in series. During operation, the upper and lower planes of the bellows tanks 6' are moved horizontally by a motor to compress the internal space of the bellows tanks 6' and squeeze the ionic liquid outward. Its output flow rate is actively controlled by a micro flow meter.

[0005] However, the existing structure has the following defects: (1) The bellows storage box in the storage module uses a bellows structure. During the extrusion deformation process, its internal stress changes continuously, resulting in large fluctuations in the deformation rate under the same pressure, which makes the liquid transport flow rate unstable. In addition, in scenarios that require high-precision flow control, a complex system must be used to regulate the flow rate, but this takes up too much volume. (2) When the bellows structure is compressed to its minimum, there is a large remaining volume. The internal ionic liquid cannot be completely discharged, and the working fluid carried cannot be fully utilized. At the same time, the proportion of excess mass in the thruster system increases.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a compact, high-precision electronic fuel injection propulsion and energy storage system to solve the above-mentioned technical problems to a certain extent. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this application is to provide a piston-type electronically controlled fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system that can transport liquids at the required flow rate with high control precision to a certain extent, and has a wide flow rate adjustment range, so as to realize the effective utilization of stored ionic liquids.

[0008] This application provides a piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system, comprising:

[0009] Storage unit, surrounding a storage cavity, and

[0010] A driving unit has a driving part and a squeezing part; the squeezing part is disposed in the storage cavity, dividing the storage cavity along its axial direction into a first storage region for storing ionic liquid and a second storage region for storing driving gas.

[0011] The driving unit can drive the extrusion unit to move toward the first storage area to extrude the ionic liquid from the first storage area;

[0012] The shape of the extrusion part is similar to the end of the first storage area away from the second storage area, so that when the driving part drives the extrusion part, the extrusion part can completely fit into the end of the first storage area away from the second storage area.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the storage unit further includes:

[0014] A housing having a connecting end and a pressing end formed along its axial direction; the pressing end protrudes spherically in a direction away from the connecting end; and...

[0015] The bottom shell is connected to the housing via a first sealing member to enclose the storage cavity with the housing.

[0016] In the above technical solution, the extrusion part further includes a piston, the piston including a sliding part that fits against the inner sidewall of the housing and a pressing part that is connected to the sliding part and has a similar shape to the extrusion end;

[0017] The drive unit includes a heating element attached to the outer wall of the housing corresponding to the second storage area. The heating element can heat the drive gas in the second storage area to increase the pressure of the drive gas. The increased pressure of the drive gas can drive the piston to move toward the extrusion end.

[0018] In the above technical solution, the driving unit further includes a controller electrically connected to the heating element and a first pressure sensor electrically connected to the controller;

[0019] The probe of the first pressure sensor extends into the second storage area and is able to detect the pressure within the second storage area;

[0020] When the pressure in the second storage area is less than a preset value, the first pressure sensor controls the heating element to heat the second storage area through the controller.

[0021] When the pressure in the second storage area is greater than the preset value, the first pressure sensor controls the heating element to stop heating the second storage area through the controller.

[0022] In the above technical solution, the driving unit further includes a thermistor connected to the controller;

[0023] The thermistor is disposed on the housing at the position corresponding to the first storage area, and is capable of detecting the temperature of the ionic liquid in the first storage area;

[0024] When the temperature of the ionic liquid in the first storage area is lower than the preset temperature, the thermistor controls the heating element to heat the second storage area through the controller;

[0025] When the temperature of the ionic liquid in the first storage area is greater than the preset temperature, the thermistor controls the heating element to stop heating the second storage area through the controller.

[0026] In the above technical solution, the extrusion part further includes a piston, the piston including a sliding part that fits against the inner sidewall of the housing and a pressing part that is connected to the sliding part and has a similar shape to the extrusion end;

[0027] The drive unit includes a high-pressure gas cylinder storing drive gas, and the high-pressure gas cylinder is connected to the second storage area through a pressure reducing valve;

[0028] The driving gas can drive the piston to move toward the extrusion end.

[0029] In the above technical solution, a second sealing member is further provided between the sliding part and the housing, and the second sealing member includes a second sealing strip;

[0030] The sliding part is provided with a plurality of first mounting grooves spaced apart along the axial direction of the housing, and the second sealing strip is respectively disposed in the first mounting groove.

[0031] In the above technical solution, the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system further includes a filler valve that is connected to the first storage area and the second storage area respectively;

[0032] The ionic liquid can be added to or discharged into the first storage area through the addition / discharge valve connected to the first storage area;

[0033] The drive gas can be injected into or discharged into the first storage area via the injection / discharge valve connected to the second storage area.

[0034] In the above technical solution, the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system further includes a locking valve;

[0035] Both the locking valve and the expansion / extraction valve, which communicates with the second storage area, are located on the bottom shell base;

[0036] One end of the locking valve is connected to the first storage area via a pipeline, and the other end is used to connect to the thruster, which can guide the ionic liquid to the thruster.

[0037] In the above technical solution, a second pressure sensor is further provided on the connecting pipeline between the locking valve and the thruster.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0039] This application provides a piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system, comprising:

[0040] Storage unit, surrounding a storage cavity, and

[0041] A driving unit has a driving part and a squeezing part; the squeezing part is disposed in the storage cavity, dividing the storage cavity along its axial direction into a first storage region for storing ionic liquid and a second storage region for storing driving gas.

[0042] The driving unit can drive the extrusion unit to move toward the first storage area to extrude the ionic liquid from the first storage area;

[0043] The shape of the extrusion part is similar to the end of the first storage area away from the second storage area, so that when the driving part drives the extrusion part, the extrusion part can completely fit into the end of the first storage area away from the second storage area.

[0044] Specifically, this application divides the storage chamber into two parts: a first storage region and a second storage region. The first storage region stores ionic liquid, while the second storage region stores liquefied gas, separated by a compression section. Optionally, the compression section is a piston. During use, the liquefied gas is heated to pressurize it, driving the piston to move and compress the ionic liquid for outward transport. The constant resistance during piston movement ensures a stable flow rate of the ionic liquid under stable pressure, eliminating the need for complex flow control devices and resulting in a highly compact system. Furthermore, by simply ensuring that the shape of the piston top closely matches the shape of the end of the first storage region away from the second storage region, the ionic liquid can be completely discharged from the storage tank, improving the utilization rate of the working fluid.

[0045] In summary, the piston-type electro-injection propulsion storage and supply system with a piston structure maintains a constant resistance generated by the piston movement during the supply process. Therefore, at a constant pressure, the rate of change of the ionic liquid region's volume is constant, and the output flow rate also remains constant. Compared to the problems of deformation rate and resistance variations during operation inherent in traditional bellows structures, this application significantly reduces the difficulty of achieving high-precision flow control by using a heated liquefied gas pressurization method to provide power to the ionic liquid.

[0046] Furthermore, compared to existing methods that use solid zeolite or mechanically driven compression, this application uses liquefied gas refueling, which occupies less space and only requires short-term heating and pressurization during operation, resulting in lower energy consumption.

[0047] Furthermore, existing bellows storage tanks, even when compressed to their minimum size, still retain a certain volume. Since the bellows cannot be further compressed, the ionic liquid within this volume cannot be squeezed out of the tank, thus limiting the utilization rate of the added ionic liquid. To address this technical problem, the piston structure of this application only requires the top of the piston to be similar in shape to the end of the first storage area that is away from the second storage area, ensuring that all the ionic liquid added to the second storage area can be discharged from the second storage area. Attached Figure Description

[0048] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0049] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the storage and supply system of a traditional electro-spray thruster;

[0050] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another traditional storage and supply system that uses four independent bellows tanks;

[0051] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and energy storage system provided in this application from a first-view perspective;

[0052] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and energy storage system provided in this application from a second perspective;

[0053] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the casing of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system provided in this application from a first-view perspective;

[0054] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the casing of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system provided in this application from a second-view perspective;

[0055] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the housing in the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system provided in this application;

[0056] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the piston in the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system provided in this application;

[0057] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the hidden housing and piston in the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system provided in this application;

[0058] Figure 10 for Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of the hidden bottom shell base;

[0059] Figure 11 A partial cross-sectional view of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system provided in this application;

[0060] Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the lock-up valve in the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and energy storage system provided in this application;

[0061] Figure 13A cross-sectional view of the valve in the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system provided in this application;

[0062] Figure 14 Another cross-sectional view of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system provided in this application;

[0063] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the principle structure of the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system provided in this application.

[0064] Figure reference numerals: 4'-zeolite material; 5'-resistance wire; 6'-bellows storage tank; 7'-pressure sensor; 8'-thruster; 9'-miniature shut-off valve;

[0065] 1-Storage unit; 101-Storage cavity; 102-Housing shell; 103-Connecting end; 104-Crushing end; 105-Bottom shell base; 106-First sealing member; 107-Second mounting groove;

[0066] 203 - Extrusion section; 204 - First storage area; 205 - Second storage area; 206 - Piston; 207 - Sliding section; 208 - Pressing section; 209 - Heating element; 210 - Controller; 211 - First pressure sensor; 212 - Thermistor; 213 - Second sealing member; 214 - First mounting groove;

[0067] 3-Addition / exhaust valve; 301-Sealing head; 302-Plug; 303-Addition port; 304-Opening; 305-Pipeline;

[0068] 4-Lock-off valve; 401-Second pressure sensor; 402-Sealing housing; 403-Base; 404-Solenoid coil; 405-Displacement core; 406-Sealing head; 407-Valve inlet; 408-Valve outlet; 409-Magnetic shielding housing. Detailed Implementation

[0069] The following detailed embodiments are provided to aid the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to the order presented herein; rather, changes that will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application are possible, except for operations that must occur in a specific order. Furthermore, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted for clarity and brevity. The features described herein may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein are provided only to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein that will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. Throughout this specification, when an element (such as a layer, region, or substrate) is described as being "on" another element, "connected to" another element, "bonded to" another element, "on" another element, or "covering" another element, it may be directly "on" another element, "connected to" another element, "bonded to" another element, "on" another element, or "covering" another element, or there may be one or more other elements in between. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly on" another element, "directly connected to" another element, "directly bonded to" another element, "directly on" another element, or "directly covering" another element, there may be no other elements in between. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one of the relevant items listed and any combination of any two or more of them. Although terms such as "first," "second," and "third" may be used herein to describe individual components, assemblies, regions, layers, or portions, these components, assemblies, regions, layers, or portions are not limited by these terms. More precisely, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, assembly, region, layer, or part from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first component, assembly, region, layer, or part referred to as such in the examples may also be referred to as the second component, assembly, region, layer, or part. For ease of description, spatial relational terms such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower” may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another, as shown in the accompanying drawings. Such spatial relational terms are intended to include not only the orientation depicted in the drawings but also the different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the drawings is flipped, an element described as being “above” or “upper” relative to another element will subsequently be “below” or “lower” relative to that other element.Therefore, the term "above" includes both "above" and "below" depending on the spatial orientation of the device. The device may also be positioned in other ways (e.g., oscillating 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relational terms used herein will be interpreted accordingly. The terminology used herein is for describing various examples only and is not intended to limit this disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" enumerate the stated features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and / or combinations thereof. Variations in the shapes shown in the figures may occur due to manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Therefore, the examples described herein are not limited to the specific shapes shown in the figures but include changes in shape that occur during manufacturing. The features of the examples described herein may be combined in various ways that will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application. Furthermore, although the examples described herein have a wide variety of constructions, other constructions are possible as will be apparent upon understanding the disclosure of this application.

[0070] This application provides a piston-type electro-injection propulsion storage and supply system, aiming to solve the problems of unstable output flow due to internal stress changes in existing bellows storage and supply systems used in ionic liquid electro-spray thrusters, the need for additional complex flow control systems occupying space, and low working fluid utilization due to residual liquid after bellows compression. The core of this application lies in using a piston structure instead of the traditional bellows, achieving constant flow output under stable pressure through constant motion resistance, and combining this with structural design to achieve near-complete emptying of the ionic liquid, significantly improving system compactness and working fluid utilization. The following describes... Figures 3-15 The structure of this application will be described in detail.

[0071] refer to Figures 3 to 7The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system mainly includes a storage unit 1 and a drive unit. The storage unit 1 surrounds an internal storage cavity 101. The drive unit includes a drive section and a compression section 203. The compression section 203 is disposed inside the storage cavity 101 and divides it into two independent regions along the axial direction of the cavity: a first storage region 204 for storing ionic liquid and a second storage region 205 for storing driving gas. The first storage region 204 is adjacent to the compression end 104 of the storage unit 1, while the second storage region 205 is located on the opposite side. The drive section provides driving force to the compression section 203, driving it to move along the axial direction toward the first storage region 204, thereby compressing the ionic liquid in the first storage region 204 and discharging it through a specific pipeline. To maximize the emptying of the ionic liquid, the shape of the compression section 203 is designed to resemble the contour of the end of the first storage region 204 opposite to the second storage region 205 (i.e., the inner surface of the compression end 104). In this way, when the driving unit drives the extrusion unit 203 to the end point, its end face can completely fit with the extrusion end 104 of the inner wall of the storage cavity, squeezing out almost all the ionic liquid in the first storage area 204, effectively eliminating the remaining dead zone volume and greatly improving the utilization rate of the working fluid.

[0072] Considering structural reliability, sealing performance, and ease of manufacturing, in one specific embodiment of this application, the storage unit 1 includes a housing 102 and a bottom housing 105. The housing 102 is generally a cylindrical structure closed at one end. Along its axial direction, the closed end forms a spherically protruding extrusion end 104 facing outwards, while the open end forms a connecting end 103. The bottom housing 105 is securely connected to the connecting end 103 of the housing 102 via a first sealing member 106, thereby forming the aforementioned storage cavity 101 together with the housing 102.

[0073] Optionally, the first sealing member 106 may be an O-ring, specifically, in combination with Figure 6 As shown, a second mounting groove 107 is provided on the side of the connecting end 103 of the housing 102 facing the bottom housing 105, and an O-ring is provided in the second mounting groove 107, thereby achieving the sealing between the bottom housing 105 and the housing 102.

[0074] It should also be noted that the extrusion end 104 of the housing 102 is designed with a spherical protrusion to match the extrusion surface of the piston and achieve a complete fit at the endpoint. Of course, in other feasible embodiments, the shape of the extrusion end 104 can also be other curved or conical surfaces, as long as it can form a mutually supportive fit with the piston end face, such as an ellipsoidal surface or a parabolic surface of revolution. Accordingly, the material of the housing 102 can be selected as lightweight and high-strength aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, or composite material to meet the weight reduction requirements of the aerospace field.

[0075] To address the technical problem of providing a stable and controllable driving force to the piston, this application provides two driving methods as preferred embodiments. One of the embodiments is described below. Figure 3 , Figure 11 and Figure 14 As shown, the extrusion section 203 specifically includes a piston 206 that can slide within the storage cavity 101.

[0076] Specifically, the piston 206 can be further divided into a sliding portion 207 and a pressing portion 208. The outer peripheral surface of the sliding portion 207 mates with the inner sidewall of the housing 102 to ensure smooth sliding and sealing. The pressing portion 208 is connected to the side of the sliding portion 207 facing the pressing end 104, and its shape is similar to the inner surface shape of the pressing end 104 of the housing 102.

[0077] Still referencing Figure 3 , Figure 11 and Figure 14 As shown, the drive unit includes a heating element 209 attached to the outer wall of the housing 102 and positioned corresponding to the second storage region 205. When energized, the heating element 209 generates heat, which is then conducted to the driving gas within the second storage region 205. The driving gas can be a gas with a low boiling point and easy liquefaction, such as carbon dioxide, propane, or sulfur hexafluoride. When the driving gas is heated, its pressure rapidly increases, creating a driving force acting on the back of the piston 206, pushing the piston 206 towards the extrusion end 104, thereby extruding the ionic liquid. This gas-based thermal expansion drive method has a simple structure, relatively low energy consumption, and fast pressure control response.

[0078] Furthermore, in order to achieve precise closed-loop control of the driving air pressure and ensure the stability of the output flow, the driving unit further includes a controller 210 and a first pressure sensor 211, based on the first driving method described above. The controller 210 is electrically connected to the heating element 209, and the probe of the first pressure sensor 211 extends into the second storage area 205 and is signal-connected to the controller 210 for real-time monitoring of the internal air pressure of the second storage area 205.

[0079] In actual operation, the system presets a pressure value corresponding to the target flow rate as a control threshold. When the first pressure sensor 211 detects that the pressure in the second storage area 205 is lower than the preset value, it transmits a signal to the controller 210. The controller 210 then controls the heating element 209 to start heating, causing the gas pressure to rise. When the pressure reaches or exceeds the preset value, the controller 210 controls the heating element 209 to stop heating. Through this feedback control, the gas pressure in the second storage area 205 can be maintained within a stable fluctuation range, thereby ensuring that the piston 206 receives a constant thrust and achieving a stable flow rate output of the ionic liquid. Optionally, the controller 210 can be a microcontroller (MCU) or a programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0080] Alternatively, the drive unit may also include a thermistor 212 connected to the controller 210. This thermistor 212 is positioned on the housing 102 corresponding to the first storage region 204, and is used to directly monitor the temperature of the ionic liquid. Considering that the viscosity of some ionic liquids is sensitive to temperature, excessively low temperatures may lead to decreased fluidity. Therefore, when the thermistor 212 detects that the ionic liquid temperature is below a certain preset temperature (e.g., 10°C), the controller 210 can also activate the heating element 209 to indirectly heat the second storage region. Heat is transferred to the ionic liquid through the housing 102 and the piston 206, raising its temperature and reducing its viscosity to ensure smooth supply. Heating stops when the temperature reaches the preset value. This temperature-pressure joint control strategy further enhances the system's adaptability to complex operating conditions.

[0081] As another preferred driving method, refer to Figure 15 As shown, the piston 206 has the same structure as described above, but the drive unit is driven by a high-pressure gas cylinder. Specifically, the drive unit includes a high-pressure gas cylinder pre-stored with high-pressure driving gas (such as nitrogen or helium). The output end of the high-pressure gas cylinder is connected to the second storage area 205 via a pressure reducing valve.

[0082] During operation, the high-pressure driving gas is reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing valve and enters the second storage area 205 at a set stable pressure, directly driving the piston 206. The pressure reducing valve can be set manually or by using an electronically controlled proportional valve, with the controller 210 precisely adjusting it based on feedback from the first pressure sensor 211. This cylinder-driven method requires no heating process, responds quickly, and has an independent pressure source, unaffected by heating power limitations, making it suitable for scenarios requiring instantaneous high flow rates or long-term stable liquid supply. Similarly, the aforementioned temperature sensor can also be integrated in this method to monitor or control the operating temperature environment of the ionic liquid.

[0083] Regardless of whether heating or high-pressure gas cylinders are used, the seal between the sliding part 207 of the piston 206 and the inner wall of the housing 102 is crucial. It is necessary to ensure that the liquids on both sides of the piston 206 do not mix. Therefore, to resolve the contradiction between sealing and low-friction sliding, combined with... Figure 8 as well as Figure 11As shown, a second sealing member 213 is provided between the sliding part 207 and the inner wall of the housing 102. Specifically, multiple annular first mounting grooves 214 are spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the sliding part 207 along the axial direction of the housing 102. The second sealing member 213 may be a second sealing strip disposed in each of the first mounting grooves 214. The second sealing strip is preferably made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, such as a sealing ring filled with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or Teflon. The design of multiple sealing strips can ensure good sealing performance, prevent the driving gas and ionic liquid from intermingling, and disperse and maintain a relatively constant sliding friction resistance, which is the key structural basis for achieving stable flow.

[0084] Alternatively, a friction-reducing and wear-resistant coating, such as a molybdenum disulfide coating or a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating, can be applied to the inner wall of the housing 102 or the surface of the sliding portion 207 of the piston 206 to further reduce frictional resistance and improve service life.

[0085] To facilitate initial system filling, maintenance purging, and the replenishment or release of driving gas, the piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system of this application is also equipped with a filling and emptying valve 3. For example... Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 13 As shown, there are two filler / drain valves 3, which are respectively connected to the first storage area 204 and the second storage area 205 via pipelines. Specifically, the filler / drain valve 3 connected to the first storage area 204 can be used to add ionic liquid to this area or to drain it during maintenance. The filler / drain valve 3 connected to the second storage area 205 is used to add driving gas when using a high-pressure gas cylinder scheme, or to initially add liquefied gas when using a heated liquefied gas scheme, and can also be used to release gas during system reset.

[0086] The specific structure of the aforementioned filler / drain valve 3 may include a valve body, a sealing head 301, and a plug 302. The valve body is provided with a filling port 303. When filling is required, the plug 302 can be removed, and the operation can be performed through the filling port 303. After completion, the plug 302 is used to seal the port. Alternatively, the filler / drain valve 3 may employ a more automated structure, such as a solenoid valve or a needle valve, to achieve remote control of filling and draining from the ground.

[0087] In addition, the bottom shell base has an opening 304 corresponding to the outlet of the drain valve 3, which communicates with the second storage area.

[0088] To precisely control the supply of ionic liquid to the thruster and prevent leakage during non-operational periods, this system also includes a lockout valve 4. For example... Figure 9 , Figure 12 and Figure 14As shown, both the lock-up valve 4 and the feed / discharge valve 3, which communicates with the second storage region 205, can be integrated and mounted on the base 105, making the structure more compact. One end of the lock-up valve 4 is connected to the first storage region 204 via a pipe 305, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the ionic liquid electrospray thruster (not shown in the figure, equivalent to the thruster 8' in the background art) via a pipe. As the final switch for flow control, the lock-up valve 4 can be opened or closed according to instructions, thereby controlling whether the ionic liquid flows to the thruster.

[0089] A preferred embodiment of the aforementioned shut-off valve 4 is an electromagnetically driven type, comprising a sealing housing 402, a base 403, an electromagnetic coil 404, a displacement core 405, and a sealing head 406. When the electromagnetic coil 404 is energized, the generated magnetic force drives the displacement core 405 to move the sealing head 406 away from the valve seat, opening the passage between the valve inlet 407 and the valve outlet 408, allowing the ionic liquid to pass through. When de-energized, the sealing head 406 resets under the action of a spring (not shown) or magnetic force, closing the passage. A magnetically shielded housing 409 may also be provided outside the valve body to reduce electromagnetic interference to external equipment.

[0090] In addition, the locking valve 4 can also be piezoelectrically driven or shape memory alloy driven to achieve faster and more precise switching control.

[0091] To further monitor the pressure status of the supply pipeline, ensure the thruster operates normally, and potentially provide auxiliary signals for flow estimation, a second pressure sensor 401 can be installed on the connecting pipeline between the shut-off valve 4 and the thruster. This sensor can monitor the liquid pressure in the supply pipeline in real time. If abnormal fluctuations or drops in pressure occur, it may indicate pipeline blockage, leakage, or impending depletion of liquid in the storage tank. The system can then issue an early warning or take appropriate measures based on this information.

[0092] In summary, this application, through an innovative piston-type structural design, coupled with precise pressure and temperature control and modular valve configuration, constructs a high-precision, high-reliability, and high-propellant-utilization ion liquid electro-injection propulsion and supply system. It effectively overcomes the inherent defects of traditional bellows structures, providing an excellent propellant management solution for the precise attitude and orbit control of spacecraft such as microsatellites and nanosatellites.

[0093] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system, characterized in that, include: Storage unit, surrounding a storage cavity, and A driving unit has a driving part and a squeezing part; the squeezing part is disposed in the storage cavity, dividing the storage cavity along its axial direction into a first storage region for storing ionic liquid and a second storage region for storing driving gas. The driving unit can drive the extrusion unit to move toward the first storage area to extrude the ionic liquid from the first storage area; The shape of the extrusion part is similar to the end of the first storage area away from the second storage area, so that when the driving part drives the extrusion part, the extrusion part can completely fit into the end of the first storage area away from the second storage area. The storage unit includes: A housing having a connecting end and a pressing end formed along its axial direction; the pressing end protrudes spherically in a direction away from the connecting end; and... The bottom shell base is connected to the housing via a first sealing member to enclose the storage cavity with the housing; The extrusion section includes a piston, which includes a sliding section that fits against the inner wall of the housing and a pressing section that is connected to the sliding section and has a shape similar to the extrusion end. The driving unit includes a heating element attached to the outer wall of the housing corresponding to the second storage area. The heating element can heat the driving gas in the second storage area to increase the pressure of the driving gas. The increased pressure of the driving gas can drive the piston to move toward the extrusion end. The drive unit also includes a controller electrically connected to the heating element and a first pressure sensor electrically connected to the controller; The probe of the first pressure sensor extends into the second storage area and is able to detect the pressure within the second storage area; When the pressure in the second storage area is less than a preset value, the first pressure sensor controls the heating element to heat the second storage area through the controller. When the pressure in the second storage area is greater than the preset value, the first pressure sensor controls the heating element to stop heating the second storage area via the controller. The drive unit also includes a thermistor connected to the controller; The thermistor is disposed on the housing at the position corresponding to the first storage area, and is capable of detecting the temperature of the ionic liquid in the first storage area; When the temperature of the ionic liquid in the first storage area is lower than the preset temperature, the thermistor controls the heating element to heat the second storage area through the controller; When the temperature of the ionic liquid in the first storage area is greater than the preset temperature, the thermistor controls the heating element to stop heating the second storage area through the controller.

2. The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The extrusion section includes a piston, which includes a sliding section that fits against the inner wall of the housing and a pressing section that is connected to the sliding section and has a shape similar to the extrusion end. The drive unit includes a high-pressure gas cylinder storing drive gas, and the high-pressure gas cylinder is connected to the second storage area through a pressure reducing valve; The driving gas can drive the piston to move toward the extrusion end.

3. The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A second sealing member is provided between the sliding part and the housing, and the second sealing member includes a second sealing strip; The sliding part is provided with a plurality of first mounting grooves spaced apart along the axial direction of the housing, and the second sealing strip is respectively disposed in the first mounting groove.

4. The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion storage and supply system also includes a filler valve that is connected to the first storage area and the second storage area respectively; The ionic liquid can be added to or discharged into the first storage area through the addition / discharge valve connected to the first storage area; The drive gas can be injected into or discharged into the second storage area through the injection / discharge valve connected to the second storage area.

5. The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system also includes a locking valve; Both the locking valve and the expansion / extraction valve, which communicates with the second storage area, are located on the bottom shell base; One end of the locking valve is connected to the first storage area via a pipeline, and the other end is used to connect to the thruster, which can guide the ionic liquid to the thruster.

6. The piston-type electronic fuel injection propulsion and storage system according to claim 5, characterized in that, A second pressure sensor is also installed on the connecting pipeline between the locking valve and the thruster.

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