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2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Laser Controlled Solid Propellant Micro-thruster

Research Project

Project/Area Number 17360411
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Aerospace engineering
Research InstitutionKyushu Institute of Technology

Principal Investigator

TACHIBANA Takeshi  Kyushu Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Professor (50179719)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) HORISAWA Hideyuki  Tokai University, Faculty of Engineering, Associate Professor (30256169)
NAKANO Masakatsu  Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology, ものづくり工学科, Lecturer (90315169)
KAKAMI Akira  Kyushu Institute of Technology, Faculty of Engineering, Assistant Professor (80415653)
Project Period (FY) 2005 – 2007
KeywordsSolid Propellant / Combustion Control / Laser / Thruster / Satellite
Research Abstract

The ultimate goal of this study is completion of a small rocket motor for satellites (micro-thruster) having high performance, reliability and wide range of thrust. Our proposing concept towards the purpose is tried by use of solid propellants for high performance, reliability and simplicity coupled with laser for the combustion on/off and thrust level control. In the research work of this time, the fundamentals of combustion control were experimentally ascertained using an originally made strand burner. The results revealed that our proposing concept is feasible: forced combustion of fuel rich HTPB/AP composite propellants by laser have the same tendency in burning behavior as ordinary self-combustible propellant under high pressures and a disposition good for combustion control in reasonably wide range of pressures. Measurements by thermography for the temperature distribution combined with regression rates gave the heat balance near the combustion surface which in turn suggested that most of the heat transferred to the burning surface is provided by chemical reaction of the propellants and laser supplies only supplementary heat flux to compensate for insufficiency. Regarding the concept of an array type rocket, laser ignition of solid propellant (Boron/Potassium nitrate)in vacuum has been realized using 1W laser diode system. This rocket system can provide an impulse of 30 mNs-1Ns using 30 mg-1 g B/KNO propellants. Mixture ratio suitable for the operation of the array type rocket system was experimentally determined to optimize its performance. This rocket system successfully operated after 2-month exposure in vacuum, showing its high reliability that can be used in actual space missions.

  • Research Products

    (8 results)

All 2007 2006

All Journal Article (2 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 1 results) Presentation (6 results)

  • [Journal Article] レーザにより燃焼制御及び可変推力を実現する宇宙用固体推進機の検討2006

    • Author(s)
      各務 聡、真崎 信一郎、冷水 陵馬、堀澤 秀之、橘 武史
    • Journal Title

      Science and Technology of Energetic MateriaIs 67・3

      Pages: 96-101

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Application of a laser to solid propellant microthruster for combustion control with variable thrust2006

    • Author(s)
      Akira, Kakami, Shinichiro, Masaki, Ryoma, Hiyamizu, Takeshi, Tachibana
    • Journal Title

      Science and Technology of Energetic Materials Vol.67, No.3

      Pages: 96-101

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Presentation] Laser-Augmented Micro-Pulsejet Thruster2007

    • Author(s)
      Sou Eto, Yusuke Tomioka, Hideyuki Horisawa
    • Organizer
      30th International Electric Propulsion Conference
    • Place of Presentation
      Florence,Italy
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-19
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Presentation] Laser-Augmented Micro-Pulsejet Thruster2007

    • Author(s)
      Sou, Eto, Yusuke, Tomioka, Hideyuki, Horisawa
    • Organizer
      30th International Electric Propulsion Conference
    • Place of Presentation
      Florence, Italy
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-19
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Presentation] Ignition Charactehstics of Boron/Potassium Nitrate Using a Diode Laser in Vacuum2007

    • Author(s)
      Hiroyuki Koizumi, Masatsu Nakano, Masashi Watanabe, Takayoshi Inoue, Kimiya Komurasaki, Yoshihro Arakawa
    • Organizer
      7th International Symposium on Special Topics in Chemical Propulsion
    • Place of Presentation
      Kyoto,Japan
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-18
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Presentation] Ignition Characteristics of Boron/Potassium Nitrate Using a Diode Laser in Vacuum2007

    • Author(s)
      Hiroyuki, Koizumi, Masakatsu, Nakano, Masashi, Watanabe, Takayoshi, Inoue, Kimiya, Komurasaki, Yoshihiro, Arakawa
    • Organizer
      7th International Symposium on Special Topics in Chemical Propulsion
    • Place of Presentation
      Kyoto, Japan
    • Year and Date
      2007-09-18
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Presentation] Laser-assisted combustion of solid propellants2007

    • Author(s)
      Akira Kakami, Ryoma Hiyamizu, Kiyotaka Shuzennji, Takeshi Tachibana
    • Organizer
      43th AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference&Exhibit
    • Place of Presentation
      Cincinnati,OH U.S.A
    • Year and Date
      2007-07-08
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Presentation] Laser-assisted combustion of solid propellants2007

    • Author(s)
      Akira, Kakami, Ryoma, Hiyamizum, Kiyotaka, Shuzennji, Takeshi, Tachibana
    • Organizer
      43th AIAA Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit
    • Place of Presentation
      Cincinnati, OH U.S.A
    • Year and Date
      2007-07-08
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2010-02-04  

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