Towards an optimized heat transfer process in vaporizing liquid microthrusters using pulsed heating control
Publication date: 1 Giu 2024
The Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems of the Italian National Research Council (Italy) has designed and fabricated a water-fed MEMS vaporizing liquid microthruster (VLM) in collaboration with the University of Salento (Italy) and KU Leuven (Belgium). Previous studies have demonstrated the device’s functioning and highlighted the presence of a strong thermoelectric-hydraulic coupling that severely affects the heating and propulsive efficiencies and reliability of the device. In this regard, the current work provides a preliminary experimental investigation of a pulsed heating system actively controlled by temperature using PI-D logic (proportional and integrative actions applied to the error; derivative action applied to the output). The overall performance assessment focuses on evaluating power consumption during steady-state operation and analyzing the dynamic response of the VLM undergoing such an …