Heated Proportional Valve Pressure Regulation for Xenon Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic pressure regulation systems face challenges in efficiently operating at high inlet pressures, particularly with xenon gas propellant systems, due to Joule-Thompson cooling leading to two-phase flow, which complicates pressure control and requires advanced solutions for accurate and flexible pressure management in all-electric satellite propulsion systems.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a fluid assembly with parallel branches, each containing a magnetostrictively-actuated proportional control valve and a heater, along with redundant pressure and temperature sensors, to manage pressure and prevent two-phase flow by applying heat to the propellant, using a flexible strip heater or coils for thermal control, and employing Terfenol-D for magnetostrictive actuation, allowing for precise control of xenon flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electronic pressure regulation is used at high inlet pressures, then pressure control accuracy is improved, but Joule-Thompson cooling causes two-phase flow which worsens system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is positioned upstream of the proportional control valve to pre-heat the xenon propellant before it enters the valve. This preliminary heating action prevents the propellant from undergoing Joule-Thompson cooling and transitioning to two-phase flow during pressure regulation, thereby maintaining system reliability while enabling accurate pressure control at high inlet pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the xenon propellant by applying heat through the heater before the propellant reaches the pressure regulation stage. This parameter change (temperature increase) prevents the propellant from entering the two-phase region during expansion, allowing the electronic pressure regulator to maintain both accuracy and reliability at high inlet pressures up to 150 bar.
2Productivity
If heating is applied to prevent two-phase flow, then propellant flow efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater applies only the minimum necessary heat to prevent two-phase flow formation, rather than excessively heating the propellant. This partial heating action is sufficient to maintain propellant flow efficiency by preventing phase transition, while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary thermal input.
3Measurement precision
If magnetostrictive actuation is used for proportional control valve, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical actuation mechanisms with magnetostrictive actuation for the proportional control valve. This substitution uses magnetic fields to directly actuate the valve, eliminating complex mechanical linkages and providing more precise control. The magnetostrictive material converts electrical signals directly into mechanical displacement, improving control precision while the integration into the valve body minimizes added complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables stable, single-phase gas delivery at high pressures, improving the accuracy and flexibility of pressure regulation, reducing the need for oxygen or traditional fuels, and ensuring efficient operation up to 150 bar inlet pressures, thus addressing the inefficiencies in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
using xenon gas for propellant feed systems involves regulation that has particular challenges due to Joule-Thompson cooling and the resulting two-phase flow
Implementation Method 2
a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve and a heater
Implementation Method 3
The proportional control valve may be magnetostrictively-actuated including an axial expansion element. The axial expansion element may be comprised of Terfenol-D
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve and a heater. The heater may be a strip heater applied to or a coil wrapped around an external surface of the proportional control valve. The system may further include a latching isolation valve. A secondary fluid control branch can be included, and the fluid control branches can be in parallel. The electronic pressure regulation system can be included in an all-electric satellite. Another electronic pressure regulation system includes an electronic control unit and a fluid assembly, with the fluid assembly including a fluid control branch having a proportional control valve, the proportional control valve including two independently-controlled coils for magnetostrictive actuation.