Description
Objective:The objective of this activity is to prove the feasibility of using fuel rotary joints for electric propulsion, by designing, manufacturing and testing a solution able to be potentially embedded as part of an electric propulsion mechanism hinge.
Targeted Improvements:Simplification and optimization of mechanism design.Reduction of hinge mass by 10% (a hundred grams, with severalhinges used by appendage), with an additional benefit of concentrating the moving mass.Reduction of the volume of the actuator dueto the decrease in the resistive torque and additional freedom in the design.
Description:Rotary joints (actuators) are increasingly used in telecoms electric propulsion systems for deploying and positioning appendages and their associated thrusters. Currently, the flexible electric propulsion fuel lines use a wrap-around technique at each rotary joint. This technique has drawbacks in terms of complexity, added mass/volume and an associated resistive torque.
Compact rotary joints could replace the traditional wrap-around technique, and would lead to a reduced mass, volume, simplification and optimisation of the design of the fuel line at the rotary joint. In turn, this will enable a more compact and mass effective rotational hinge, which is highly desirable for electric propulsion mechanisms. In an analogous terrestrial use, rotary joints are commonly used in transporting fluids for medical applications, where contamination prevention and cleanliness are crucial.
Typical electric propulsion telecoms applications using suchrotary joints shall be reviewed, together with the existing performance specifications for the rotating fuel line in the joint e.g.achieved rotation range, maximum resistive torque, operating pressure.
Candidate rotary fuel joints shall be identified and evaluated.Their suitability to be adapted for space use, including a review of the materials, processes and design criteria with respect torelevant space standards shall be assessed. A rotary fuel joint breadboard embedded into a representative electric propulsion rotary joint shall be designed, developed, manufactured and tested.
Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news "Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes".
Tender Specifics