Optimized Ferromagnetic Core Magnetorquer Design and Testing for LEO Nanosatellite Attitude Control

Authors

  • Gabriel Villalba-Alumbreros Mechanical Engineering Area, Signal Theory and Communications Department Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Madrid, Spain
  • Diego Lopez-Pascual Electrical Engineering Area, Signal Theory and Communications Department Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Madrid, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2485-2297
  • Efren Diez-Jimenez Mechanical Engineering Area, Signal Theory and Communications Department Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Madrid, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/2024.ACES.J.390107

Keywords:

attitude control, magnetic rod, magnetorquer, magnetic devices

Abstract

Magnetorquers are a very suitable solution for the nanosatellite’s attitude and orbital control of low Earth orbit (LEO) given its constraints: small available volume, limited power consumption, and maximum weight limitation. In this work, an optimized ferromagnetic core magnetorquer is designed for LEO nanosatellites, considering the geometrical, electrical, and magnetic parameters in an electromagnetic finite element analysis (FEA). The final design dimensions are 10.9 mm diameter and 100 mm in length, with a ferromagnetic core made of high performance soft magnetic alloy Vacoflux50 measuring 5 mm diameter and 100 mm in length. Magnetorquer geometry has been optimized to achieve a very high compactness, reaching an optimal combination of high specific magnetic moment and magnetic moment-input power ratio at the same time. It shows a maximum magnetic moment of 1.42 Am2, a magnetic moment-input power ratio of 2.52 Am2/W, and a specific magnetic moment of 22.5 Am2/kg, with a power consumption of 0.565 W and 0.5 A. Such a combination of high-performance values has not been previously found. Furthermore, it has displayed higher magnetic moment and specific magnetic moment than previous prototypes in literature. The simulated model is validated with the experimental testing of a manufactured prototype, by measuring the magnetic and electric variables.

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Author Biographies

Gabriel Villalba-Alumbreros, Mechanical Engineering Area, Signal Theory and Communications Department Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Madrid, Spain

Gabriel Villalba-Alumbreros received his M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering in 2022 and B.Sc. in Electronics and Industrial Automation Engineering in 2019. Currently he is working in UWIPOM2 project under Horizon 2020 EU funding programme for research and innovation at University of Alcalá.His research interests are focused in electromagnetic actuators, mechatronic systems, MEMS and control systems.

Diego Lopez-Pascual, Electrical Engineering Area, Signal Theory and Communications Department Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Madrid, Spain

Diego López-Pascual is an Assistant Professor at the Electrical Engineering area of Universidad de Alcalá. He obtained his Ph.D. on Industrial Engineering in 2023. He joined the Mechanical, Electric & Thermal Technologies research group at Universidad de Alcalá at the beginning of 2020, where he is working on the UWIPOM2 project under EU funding. His main research interests are industrial design, thermal characterization of systems, and renewable energy systems modelling, subject on which his Ph.D. was developed.

Efren Diez-Jimenez, Mechanical Engineering Area, Signal Theory and Communications Department Universidad de Alcalá, 28805, Madrid, Spain

Efrén Díez-Jiménez is a Professor at the Mechanical Engineering area of Universidad de Alcalá. He obtained his Ph.D. on Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Organization in 2012, M.Sc. on Machines and Transport Engineering in 2010 and Bachelor on Industrial Engineering in 2008 from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain. In 2013, he received the Extraordinary Award for the Best Thesis in Mechanical Engineering. He has participated as coordinator into different ESA-H2020-FP7 projects with successful results. Currently, he is coordinator of H2020 European project UWIPOM2, where micro-robotic rotary actuators are being developed. Author of more than 35 articles and 5 patents granted, he also collaborates as reviewer in mechanical engineering journals. His main research interests are mechanisms and machine design, electromagnetic actuators and MEMS.

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Published

2024-01-31

How to Cite

[1]
G. Villalba-Alumbreros, D. Lopez-Pascual, and E. Diez-Jimenez, “Optimized Ferromagnetic Core Magnetorquer Design and Testing for LEO Nanosatellite Attitude Control”, ACES Journal, vol. 39, no. 01, pp. 46–56, Jan. 2024.

Issue

2024: Vol 39 Iss 1

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