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High Performance Capacitor for Pulsed Plasma Thruster

Award Information

Agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
51848 		Program Year/Program:
2001 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
NASA1590 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Jaycor, Inc.
4970 Corporate Dr. St. 110 Huntsville, AL 92121
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2001
Title: High Performance Capacitor for Pulsed Plasma Thruster
Agency: NASA
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $69,954.00
 

Abstract:

A high energy density capacitor will be developed utilizing Chemical Vapor Deposited diamond as the dielectric. The energy density of diamond multi-layer stacked or comb structure capacitors can potentially exceed 20 J/g. Even more modest energy densities of 2 J/g significantly exceed the current state-of-the-art capacitors used for Pulsed Plasma Thrusters on spacecraft. The use of high energy density diamond capacitors in PPT systems could reduce the mass of the propulsion system by 30%. Previous measurements of diamond test capacitors indicate breakdown voltages in the 3 to 4 kV/micron range and a dielectric constant of 5.5. The high temperature capability of diamond and its non-dipole crystal structure will allow rapid charge/discharge cycles without damage. During Phase I, a single layer test capacitor 5 cm. in diameter will provide 35 nano-farads of capacitance and 0.16 Joules of energy with an energy density of 0.04 J/g. Phase II will develop a multi-layer capacitor in a stacked configuration to increase the energy density, capacitance, and total energy stored in the capacitor. The Phase II device is expected to have energy density greater than 0.5 J/g, provide 1 micro-farad capacitance, and store 4.5 Joules of energy and reduce PPT system mass by 30%.

Principal Investigator:

Theron Henderson
Senior Managing Scientist
2568379100
Bo.Henderson@jaycor.com

Business Contact:

Frank Robbins
Contracts
8585353160
ewenaas@jaycor.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Jaycor, Inc.
4970 Corporate Dr. St. 110 Huntsville, AL 35805

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