Modeling of processes in porous thermal throttles for iodine flow control for space applications

• There is a need to increase the total impulse for propulsion systems while controlling the thrust precisely. • To solve this issue, a system for storing and precisely supplying iodine vapor is proposed. • The storage and supply system proposed consists of the following main components: heated storage tank; temperature control system for an iodine tablet; iodine flow throttling system, including 3 thermal throttles. • The characteristics of the iodine vapor storage and supply system are studied to ensure the mass flow of iodine with a given range with a given accuracy using various throttling methods. • Preliminary characteristics confirm the possibility of creating an iodine storage and supply system with precise control of flow rate for space applications. There has been a notable surge in the advancement of space technology across various applications - from dynamic missions, such as remote sensing of the Earth to missions involving servicing other satellites or collecting debris. In this context, propulsion systems with thrust-vectoring capability that can accurately position the satellite in orbit increasingly capturing the attention. One of the prospective solutions is to use a propulsion system with thrust-vectoring capability based on an electrodeless plasma thruster with an iodine-based propellant storage and supply system (PSSS) to significantly increase the mass-density of the propellant and the total thrust impulse. The use of chemically active iodine in an electrodeless plasma propulsion system is the most innovative solution since it does not degrade the electrodes or grid in the propulsion system, in contrast to Hall thrusters or ion thrusters. In this study, the results of the numerical simulations of the iodine-based propellant storage and supply system are considered. Mass flow rates are derived from the results and the dependence of mass flow rate reduction when varying the temperature of the thermal throttles is obtained. The optimum configurations of the proposed system, thermal throttles, and the optimum temperature ranges are determined.