Computationally examining the effect of plate thickness on hole emitter type electrospray thrusters

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method to determine the onset voltage of laser-drilled flat-plate electrospray thrusters, emphasizing the impact of plate thickness on voltage requirements for improved thruster design.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach that accounts for plate thickness effects on onset voltage, enhancing the accuracy of electrospray thruster design and understanding.

Findings

Plate thickness significantly affects onset voltage for certain materials.

The new method provides a robust way to analyze key parameters influencing voltage.

Design considerations must include plate thickness to optimize thruster performance.

Abstract

A new method for determining the onset voltage of electrospray thrusters is proposed, which specifically focuses on electrospray thrusters manufactured by laser drilling through flat plates. The novelty of this method is that it accounts for the effect of the thickness of the plate on the electrospray onset voltage requirements, while traditional methods do not. Key results from this study indicate that for certain materials a change in thickness results in a notable change in the onset voltage, which implies that the plate thickness needs to be considered when planning the design of the thruster emitters. This methodology allows for a robust method of observing the influence of key parameters on the onset voltage. These developments can potentially facilitate and improve the design of these thrusters, enabling an accurate understanding of the power requirements prior to manufacture.