Hall-effect Thruster Swirl Torque Measurement System

Overview

NASA has presented us the challenge of designing a measurement system for their Hall-effect thruster to be used in the Psyche Mission. The system must be able to measure the swirl torque that the HET imparts when in operation. The challenge is designing a system which can measure this very small swirl torque while being economically viable for NASA to implement.

Objectives

The project objective is to create a system that measures swirl torque produced by a Hall-Effect thruster. Having the ability to measure thrust is a secondary goal. The measurement system should have measurement capabilities comparable to current Hall-Effect thruster measurement systems, and additionally occupy less space.

Approach

• The team performed background research on Hall-effect thruster measurement systems
• Determined the project problem objective
• Deciphered our marketing and engineering specs with rational and evaluation
• Performed concept generation using individual and collaborative sketching
• Concept screening and weighted decision matrices were implemented in concept selection
• A MATLAB program was created to find the reaction forces of the entire system
• Created high-detail CAD models of components and measurement system assembly
• Heat transfer and part deformation was simulated in ANSYS
• Performed Simulink simulations to validate model accuracy
• Drawings supplied with full geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
• Quotes were received for machined components

Outcomes

• NASA Glenn Research Center can continue to develop the measurement system to experimentally measure swirl torques
• Measurement system was proved to be accurate to 0.040% with no damping, thus meeting the 1% measurement accuracy design requirement
• The measurement system is well under 1 million USD, which meets design requirements and saves NASA capital
• Measurement system can also accommodate a secondary system to measure thrust force