Electronic Pressure Regulator
ESA
Nammo Space has developed an Electronic Pressure Regulator for spacecraft use. This state-of-the-art development features the Nammo advanced High Pressure Proportional Valve and includes an integral heater for thermal conditioning of the fluid.
The Electronic Pressure Regulator is primarily designed for electric propulsion with the option of auxiliary cold gas propulsion Xenon and also for chemical propulsion systems to regulate the helium pressurant. When used in a Xenon or Nitrogen application the EPR requires a propellant heater to avoid two phase flow in the regulator caused by Joule Thompson cooling.
The EPR design uses a heater upstream of the high pressure proportional valve, which heats the gas so that the outlet gas (at LP node) is maintained above 27˚C. The qualification activities are ongoing at this time for the Electronic Pressure Regulator.
Operating Media
Xenon, Nitrogen, Helium
Inlet Pressure
4,496 psi
Pressure Set Point Range
7.25 psi to 319 psi
Set Point Accuracy, for Xenon
< 1% of mass flow set point
Proof Pressure
6,744 psi
Burst Pressure
11,240 psi
Operating Temperature
-40°C to +70°C
Xenon Mass Flow Rates
0 to 1.2 g/s Xenon, for pressures between 362.6 psia and 2,712 psia
Helium Mass Flow Rates
0 to 0.6 g/s Helium, pressures from 987 psia to 4,496 psia
Internal Leakage
2 x 10-5 scc/s GHe
External Leakage
1 x 10-6 scc/s GHe
System Response Time
Depending on volume and inlet pressure
Filtration
2 µm
Operating Life Cycles
15,000 On/Off cycles
Hardware Mass
< 5 lb
Envelope
297mm x 225mm x 74mm
Single Branch Power
< 15 W on standby and pre heated at 200°C for Xenon
Single Branch Power
1.4 W on standby for Helium (no heating)
Heating Power
> 60W available for fluid enthalpy increase
Electrical Interface
Flying leads or connectors
Fluidic Interface
Customisable, welded stub tubes or threaded fittings
Structural Interface
Please contact Nammo to discuss your specific needs.
Electronic Control Hardware
Closed loop electronics required with 200 V valve driver
Technology Readiness Level
TRL7
Status
The Electronic Pressure Regulator is being developed and qualified together with ESA.
NAMMO UK WESTCOTT
GENERAL
- Dedicated, skilled space engineering team
- Experienced Assembly Integration and Test Team
- Cleanroom facility for space hardware
- Electron Beam Welding
- Experienced orbital and interplanetary propulsion solutions
TEST FACILITIES
- National Propulsion Test Facility, for thrusters up to 1.5kN
- High Altitude Propulsion Test Facility
- Attitude and Reaction Control Testing
- Small Thruster Test Facility
- Sea Level Test Facility
- Vibration and Resonance Testing
QUALITY
- Certified to AS9100
- Focused on customer needs
