Design and analysis of a gas generator for inflatable space structures

Abstract

Gas generators have been gradually utilized to inflate inflatable space structures, and normally they use high-energy nitrogenous compounds and solid propellants as gas-generating agents. However, gas generators with a high combustion temperature, fast reaction speed, and massive energy generation will lead to an excessively high gas temperature inside the inflatable structures and an excessively fast unfolding speed, which causes wrinkles or even cracks in inflatable films. This paper proposes a new gas generating device using NaHCO3 as the gas generating agent and resistance wires as heating elements to maintain the advantages of small size and light weight, as well as high security and lack of pollution. The feasibility of the gas generator is computationally analyzed in COMSOL and experimentally verified. Additionally, a tightness test of the gas generation system is undertaken using air pressure sensors. The results show that the device can slowly and steadily generate CO2 gas to deploy thin-film inflatable structures.