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Slit Colloid Thrusters Using Ionic Liquid Propellants

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Office of the Secretary of Defense 		Award ID:
66795 		Program Year/Program:
2004 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
O031-0146 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Busek Co. Inc.
11 Tech Circle Natick, MA -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2004
Title: Slit Colloid Thrusters Using Ionic Liquid Propellants
Agency / Branch: DOD / OSD
Contract: FA8650-04-C-2504
Award Amount: $749,745.00
 

Abstract:

Busek proposes to develop and demonstrate a milliNewton slit colloid thruster (SCT) system and at the conclusion of the program deliver the thruster prototype to the government. During Phase I, Busek confirmed the feasibility of the SCT and established the preferred slit geometry that is suitable for large scale arraying. It was shown that a slit emits from a series of closely spaced individual Taylor cones forming a sheet of colloids. The time-of-flight spectra associated with this sheet electrospray indicate high propulsive efficiency regimes of particular interest to this project. In the Phase II program we propose to further develop the basic thruster array element and characterize it using unique methods for achieving uniform propellant distribution, stable emission, and direct thrust measurement. The development will be supported by modeling efforts by MIT and ionic liquid propellant optimization studies by Yale University. An array of multiple SCT elements will then be developed, allowing for convenient and precise scaling to the milliNewton range, while maintaining propulsive efficiencies of 70% and specific impulse up to 1000s. This expected performance is unmatched by any other electric propulsion device operating in the milliNewton thrust range, including the main competitor, liquid metal based FEEPs.

Principal Investigator:

Vlad Hruby
President
5086555565
vhruby@busek.com

Business Contact:

Judy Budny
Contracts Administrator
5086555565
judy@busek.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

BUSEK CO., INC.
11 Tech Circle Natick, MA 01760

EIN/Tax ID: 042881247
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No