De-risk assessment: COOL GAS GENERATORS FOR ELECTRIC PROPULSION

Objective(s): ​Show that a xenon cool gas generator is feasible by producing xenon gas.​Show that the xenon cool gas generator can compete with other xenon storage options for small satellites.​

Background and justification: ​Xenon storage is challenging for small satellite platforms due to the strict thermal management and the presence of high-presure components.​A way of solving this problem is by having a different storage method. By storing the xenon in a cool gas generator, the xenon is bound chemically before the activation of the xenon cool gas generator. This way there is no need for high pressure components and the strict thermal management of the whole system is no longer needed​Achievements and status: ​It has been shown that the xenon cool gas generator is feasible through experiments with the raw materials. ​The sensitivity of the raw materials is lower than expected, which make it easier to handle.​It has been shown through analysis that the xenon cool gas generator can outperform other available xenon storage systems in mass and size.​The xenon cool gas generator has performed several tests and reactions between the raw materials have been observed​Experiments have shown that the Xenon CGG can work as an independent system. ​Benefits: ​The mass of the xenon delivery system can be reduced by 20% for the slightly conservative estimate and 5% for the conservative estimate​The volume of the xenon delivery system can be reduced by 40% for the slightly conservative estimate and 20% for the conservative estimate​The xenon storage is pressure less and the temperature requirements are less strict