Transport in Plasma Thrusters Using Complex Propellants

摘要

Theoretical modeling of ablation-fed, pulsed plasma thrusters (PPTs) with the MACH2 code has shown that after repeated pulsed operation, the total expelled mass is due to ablation during the discharge and solid decomposition that persists long after the pulse. The latter mass does not considerably contribute to the impulse-bit thus degrading thruster performance. For the rectangular PPT geometry, optimizing current waveforms in combination with channel widths are presented, that utilize all decomposed mass, electromagnetically. These waveforms are characterized by short rise times (<1 microsec) and prolonged decays (>25 micro sec). Simplified modeling based on steady-state, one-dimensional flow reveals that the mass flow rate varies linearly with the square of the magnetic field and that the downstream flow speed is driven towards the Alfven wave speed when the magnetic pressure is much greater than the gasdynamic pressure. The model has been confirmed by MACH2. The mass flow requirement for such magnetosonic flow in turn, determines the surface temperature of the solid.