06 Fakultät Luft- und Raumfahrttechnik und Geodäsie
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://elib.uni-stuttgart.de/handle/11682/7
Browse
10 results
Search Results
Item Open Access Assessment of high enthalpy flow conditions for re-entry aerothermodynamics in the plasma wind tunnel facilities at IRS(2021) Loehle, Stefan; Zander, Fabian; Eberhart, Martin; Hermann, Tobias; Meindl, Arne; Massuti-Ballester, Bartomeu; Leiser, David; Hufgard, Fabian; Pagan, Adam S.; Herdrich, Georg; Fasoulas, StefanosThis article presents the full operational experimental capabilities of the plasma wind tunnel facilities at the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart. The simulation of the aerothermodynamic environment experienced by vehicles entering the atmosphere of Earth is attempted using three different facilities. Utilizing the three different facilities, the recent improvements enable a unique range of flow conditions in relation to other known facilities. Recent performance optimisations are highlighted in this article. Based on the experimental conditions demonstrated a corresponding flight scenario is derived using a ground-to-flight extrapolation approach based on local mass-specific enthalpy, total pressure and boundary layer edge velocity gradient. This shows that the three facilities cover the challenging parts of the aerothermodynamics along the entry trajectory from Low Earth Orbit. Furthermore, the more challenging conditions arising during interplanetary return at altitudes above 70 km are as well covered.Item Open Access Aufbau, Qualifikation und Charakterisierung einer induktiv beheizten Plasmawindkanalanlage zur Simulation atmosphärischer Eintrittsmanöver(2004) Herdrich, Georg; Auweter-Kurtz, Monika (Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil.)Zur elektrodenfreien Erzeugung von Plasmen für die Entwicklung, Untersuchung und Qualifikation von Hitzeschutzmaterialien, die von Raumflugkörpern bei Eintrittsmanövern in die Atmosphären von Venus, Erde und Mars benötigt werden, wurde im Rahmen dieser Arbeit der induktiv beheizte Plasmawindkanal PWK3 des IRS aufgebaut. Die Anlage, die über modular konstruierte induktive Plasmageneratoren zum Betrieb mit den Gasen Kohlendioxid, Luft, Sauerstoff und Stickstoff ver¬fügt, wurde für hohe Plasmaleistungen bis zu 60 kW qualifiziert. Messungen von Plasmaleistungen, Induktorströmen, Betriebsfrequenzen, elektromagnetischen Feldstärken, Wärmeströmen auf Probekörpern, Pitotdrücken und Machzahlen dienen der umfassenden Charakterisierung des Betriebsverhaltens der Plasmageneratoren und der Plasmabedingungen. Neuentwickelte analytische Modelle und numerische Berechnungen, deren Ergebnisse gut mit den experimentellen Daten übereinstimmen, ermöglichen durch die Optimierung der Wandstärke des Entladungsgefäßes, der Spulenwindungszahl und der Anzahl der Kapazitäten im Schwingkreis eine maximale Plasmaleistung bei hoher Betriebszeit für unterschiedliche Gaszusammensetzungen.Item Open Access Mars and Venus entry simulation capabilities of IRS plasma wind tunnel PWK3(2012) Herdrich, Georg; Marynowski, Thomas; Dropmann, Michael; Fasoulas, StefanosAn assessment is made for the inductively driven plasma wind tunnel PWK3 with the goal to derive relevant mass specific enthalpies for typical Mars and Venus atmospheric entry missions. For this purpose an integral method has been used which links the plasma power to the radial distribution of total pressure and fully catalytic heat flux in the plasma jet on basis of a relation from Marvin and Pope. Rebuilding the enthalpies with this relation allows for the derivation of a gas specific proportionality factor. This factor enables the derivation of the mass specific enthalpies at the centre line and the radial profiles for the respective condition are not necessarily required any more. Correspondingly a review of reference CO2 plasma conditions obtained in past investigations at IRS leads to the identification of an operational envelope in terms of the mass specific enthalpies which are from an energy consideration the prerequisite for the creation of similarities with respect to the real atmospheric entry maneuvers. The analysis shows that PWK3 is capable to cover the full range of mass specific enthalpies that are required for typical Mars and Venus atmospheric entry scenarios.Item Open Access Electrical conductivity of the thermal dusty plasma under the conditions of a hybrid plasma environment simulation facility(2015) Zhukhovitskii, Dmitry I.; Petrov, Oleg F.; Hyde, Truell W.; Herdrich, Georg; Laufer, Rene; Dropmann, Michael; Matthews, Lorin S.We discuss the inductively heated plasma generator (IPG) facility in application to the generation of the thermal dusty plasma formed by the positively charged dust particles and the electrons emitted by them. We develop a theoretical model for the calculation of plasma electrical conductivity under typical conditions of the IPG. We show that the electrical conductivity of dusty plasma is defined by collisions with the neutral gas molecules and by the electron number density. The latter is calculated in the approximations of an ideal and strongly coupled particle system and in the regime of weak and strong screening of the particle charge. The maximum attainable electron number density and corresponding maximum plasma electrical conductivity prove to be independent of the particle emissivity. Analysis of available experiments is performed, in particular, of our recent experiment with plasma formed by the combustion products of a propane-air mixture and the CeO2 particles injected into it. A good correlation between the theory and experimental data points to the adequacy of our approach. Our main conclusion is that a level of the electrical conductivity due to the thermal ionization of the dust particles is sufficiently high to compete with that of the potassium-doped plasmas.Item Open Access An automated system analysis and design tool for spacecrafts(2021) Ehresmann, Manfred; Herdrich, Georg; Fasoulas, StefanosIn this paper, a generic full-system estimation software tool is introduced and applied to a data set of actual flight missions to derive a heuristic for system composition for mass and power ratios of considered sub-systems. The capability of evolutionary algorithms to analyse and effectively design spacecraft (sub-)systems is shown. After deriving top-level estimates for each spacecraft sub-system based on heuristic heritage data, a detailed component-based system analysis follows. Various degrees of freedom exist for a hardware-based sub-system design; these are to be resolved via an evolutionary algorithm to determine an optimal system configuration. A propulsion system implementation for a small satellite test case will serve as a reference example of the implemented algorithm application. The propulsion system includes thruster, power processing unit, tank, propellant and general power supply system masses and power consumptions. Relevant performance parameters such as desired thrust, effective exhaust velocity, utilised propellant, and the propulsion type are considered as degrees of freedom. An evolutionary algorithm is applied to the propulsion system scaling model to demonstrate that such evolutionary algorithms are capable of bypassing complex multidimensional design optimisation problems. An evolutionary algorithm is an algorithm that uses a heuristic to change input parameters and a defined selection criterion (e.g., mass fraction of the system) on an optimisation function to refine solutions successively. With sufficient generations and, thereby, iterations of design points, local optima are determined. Using mitigation methods and a sufficient number of seed points, a global optimal system configurations can be found.Item Open Access A fast thermal 1D model to study aerospace material response behaviors in uncontrolled atmospheric entries(2022) Pirrone, Serena R. M.; Agabiti, Camilla; Pagan, Adam S.; Herdrich, GeorgA preliminary thermal 1D numerical model for studying the demise behavior of stainless steel 316L, silicon carbide (SiC) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) during uncontrolled atmospheric entry is proposed. Test case modeling results are compared to experimental data obtained in the framework of ESA Clean Space initiative: material samples were exposed to different heat flux conditions using the Plasma Wind Tunnel (PWT) facilities at the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the University of Stuttgart. This numerical model approximates the heating history of the selected materials by simulating their thermal response and temperature profiles, which have trends similar to the experimental curves that are found. Moreover, when high heat flux conditions are considered, the model simulates the materials’ mass loss due to the ablation process: at the end of the simulation, the difference between the experimental and the modeled results is about 17% for CFRP and 35% for stainless steel. To reduce the model’s uncertainties, the following analysis suggests the need to consider the influence of adequate material thermophysical properties and the physical-chemical processes that affect the samples’ temperature profile and mass loss.Item Open Access A coaxial pulsed plasma thruster model with efficient flyback converter approaches for small satellites(2023) O’Reilly, Dillon; Herdrich, Georg; Schäfer, Felix; Montag, Christoph; Worden, Simon P.; Meaney, Peter; Kavanagh, Darren F.Pulsed plasma thrusters (PPT) have demonstrated enormous potential since the 1960s. One major shortcoming is their low thrust efficiency, typically <30%. Most of these losses are due to joule heating, while some can be attributed to poor efficiency of the power processing units (PPUs). We model PPTs to improve their efficiency, by exploring the use of power electronic topologies to enhance the power conversion efficiency from the DC source to the thruster head. Different control approaches are considered, starting off with the basic approach of a fixed frequency flyback converter. Then, the more advanced critical conduction mode (CrCM) flyback, as well as other optimized solutions using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, are presented. Variations of these flyback converters are studied under different control regimes, such as zero voltage switching (ZVS), valley voltage switching (VVS), and hard switched, to enhance the performance and efficiency of the PPU. We compare the max voltage, charge time, and the overall power conversion efficiency for different operating regimes. Our analytical results show that a more dynamic control regime can result in fewer losses and enhanced performance, offering an improved power conversion efficiency for PPUs used with PPTs. An efficiency of 86% was achieved using the variable frequency approach. This work has narrowed the possible PPU options through analytical analysis and has therefore identified a strategic approach for future investigations. In addition, a new low-power coaxial micro-thruster model using equivalent circuit model elements is developed.This is referred to as the Carlow-Stuttgart model and has been validated against experimental data from vacuum chamber tests in Stuttgart’s Pulsed Plasma Laboratory. This work serves as a valuable precursor towards the implementation of highly optimized PPU designs for efficient PPT thrusters for the next PETRUS (pulsed electrothermal thruster for the University of Stuttgart) missions.Item Open Access Electric propulsion methods for small satellites : a review(2021) O’Reilly, Dillon; Herdrich, Georg; Kavanagh, Darren F.Over 2500 active satellites are in orbit as of October 2020, with an increase of ~1000 smallsats in the past two years. Since 2012, over 1700 smallsats have been launched into orbit. It is projected that by 2025, there will be 1000 smallsats launched per year. Currently, these satellites do not have sufficient delta v capabilities for missions beyond Earth orbit. They are confined to their pre-selected orbit and in most cases, they cannot avoid collisions. Propulsion systems on smallsats provide orbital manoeuvring, station keeping, collision avoidance and safer de-orbit strategies. In return, this enables longer duration, higher functionality missions beyond Earth orbit. This article has reviewed electrostatic, electrothermal and electromagnetic propulsion methods based on state of the art research and the current knowledge base. Performance metrics by which these space propulsion systems can be evaluated are presented. The article outlines some of the existing limitations and shortcomings of current electric propulsion thruster systems and technologies. Moreover, the discussion contributes to the discourse by identifying potential research avenues to improve and advance electric propulsion systems for smallsats. The article has placed emphasis on space propulsion systems that are electric and enable interplanetary missions, while alternative approaches to propulsion have also received attention in the text, including light sails and nuclear electric propulsion amongst others.Item Open Access Cluster of electric thrusters for astronautic and robotic INPPS flagship space flights to Mars and Europa moon(2023) Jansen, Frank; Andreussi, Tommaso; Cesarretti, Giovanni; Ehresmann, Manfred; Grill, Julia; Herdrich, Georg; Funaki, Ikkoh; Girard, Nathalie; Grundmann, Jan Thimo; Krejci, David; Leiter, Hans; Masson, Frederic; Maiwald, Volker; Misuri, Tommaso; Oriol, Stephane; Piragino, Antonio; Reissner, Alexander; Schanz, LarsThis review deals with the selection of the electric propulsion system (EPS) for the internationally developed and designed, primary nuclear-electric space tug International Nuclear Power and Propulsion System (INPPS). INPPS is scheduled for interplanetary missions to Mars and Jupiter moon Europa missions by the end of decade 2020. Regarding specific technical and mission parameters preselected electric thruster (ET) types, developed by international companies and institutions, are analysed, evaluated and investigated for a possible application as propulsion system (PS), the so-called CET (Cluster of Electric Thrusters). It is analysed whether solely electric thrusters, combined in an adequate CET, enable the envisaged interplanetary missions-robotic and astronautic/crewed with the INPPS flagship. Thruster clusters with strategic consortium considerations are analysed as a feasible PS of the INPPS. The studied CET consists of the following: (a) only European ETs, (b) combination of German and European ETs, (c) Japanese and European ETs or at least (d) Japanese, European and US thrusters. The main results are (1) Robotic and crewed INPPS mission to Mars/Europa are realizable with EPS only (no chemical propulsion is needed), (2) that every CET, except (c) of only Japanese and part of European thrusters, is capable to perform the main part of envisaged INPPS flagship mission orbit to Mars, back to Earth and to Jupiter/Europa moon.Item Open Access Fargo : validation of space-relevant ferrofluid applications on the ISS(2024) Sütterlin, Saskia; Bölke, Daniel; Ehresmann, Manfred; Heinz, Nicolas; Dietrich, Janoah; Karahan, Bahar; Kob, Maximilian; O’Donohue, Michael; Korn, Christian; Grossmann, Steffen; Philipp, Daniel; Steinert, Michael; Acker, Denis; Remane, Yolantha; Kreul, Phil; Schneider, Maximilan; Zajonz, Sebastian; Wank, Bianca; Turco, Fabrizio; Buchfink, Manuel; Gutierrez, Elizabeth; Hofmann, Sonja; Ruffner, Silas; Wagner, Alexander; Breitenbücher, Laura; Schäfer, Felix; Herdrich, Georg; Fasoulas, StefanosThe Ferrofluid Application Research Goes Orbital (FARGO) project desires to harness the potential of ferrofluids for advanced space system applications. Thereby, the student-led research project aims to develop, evaluate and subsequently validate three different ferrofluid-based applications on board the International Space Station (ISS): a novel attitude control system called Ferrowheel as well as a Thermal and an Electrical Switch. The project is part of the Überflieger2 competition of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in cooperation with the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA). Central to this study is the role of ferrofluids in ensuring the functional principles to minimize the number of moving components ultimately. Therefore, the proposed systems have the potential to mitigate wear, reduce friction, and consequently improve the longevity and reliability of space systems. In the Ferrowheel, a disc is supported on ferrofluid cushions instead of conventional ball-bearing-mounted rotors. This innovative approach, facilitated by the magnetic pressure positioning of the ferrofluid, eliminates the need for solid-to-solid contact. Circularly arranged coils function as the stator, propelling the disc with a 3-phase control, resulting in a spinning magnetic field. In addition to determining the generated torque, the objective is to validate experiments on system operations in which various acceleration and deceleration manoeuvres, as well as the stored angular momentum, are evaluated. The Electrical Switch leverages a self-manufactured magnetorheological fluid (MRF) developed by augmenting a liquid-metal base with iron powder. As a result, the fluid, akin to ferrofluid, has a magnetic field-responsive movement. Since a liquid metal is used as the base, the ferrofluid-like fluid acts as both the magnetically actuatable and the current conducting fluid. To enable a current flow, the fluid is brought between the two electrical contacts utilizing electropermanent magnets (EPMs). These magnets combine the high magnetic field strengths of permanent magnets with the adaptive switching capability of electromagnets. Compared to all other demand-controlled magnetic field sources, this results in the great advantage that no energy is consumed as long as they are in one state. Only the switching process of the EPMs itself requires a high amount of energy, but only for a relatively short period. The switching behaviour under different loads will be investigated, evaluated, and compared to reference data recorded on Earth. The design of the Thermal Switch is characterized by the fact that it can be actively switched. Active thermal switching is still a relatively new field, so there is little comparative data from industrial solutions. Particularly for spacecraft, thermal design is crucial because the harsh environment of space must be taken into account. In addition to the challenge that heat can only be transferred to the environment via thermal radiation, severe conditions in space are characterized by extreme temperature differences. While extreme heat develops on the satellite surface on the side facing the sun, the opposite is valid on the shaded side. The resulting heat flow, which is irregular in time, location, and direction, leads to temperature peaks and gradients that can affect the system’s performance, functionality, and reliability. Active switching provides selective control over heat transfer, allowing more flexible temperature regulation in critical areas and implementing a dynamic system response. Different design ideas are tested and evaluated for the applications in various experiments. The most suitable design is finally selected, further modified, and tailored for experimentation on the ISS and presented in this study. The most significant challenge is the time-critical factor of only a 1-year development phase. A total of 21 students from six different courses of study and two supervising PhD students from the Institute of Space Systems are involved in the FARGO project, all members of the small satellite student society at the University of Stuttgart, KSat e.V.