Investigation of the GEM MPD thruster using the MACH2 magnetohydrodynamics code

electric propulsion;magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD);gallium electromagnetic (GEM) thruster;Multiblock Arbitrary Coordinate Hydromagnetic 2 (MACH2);simulation

Ahern, Drew ; Burton ; Rodney L.

关键词: electric propulsion;    magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD);    gallium electromagnetic (GEM) thruster;    Multiblock Arbitrary Coordinate Hydromagnetic 2 (MACH2);    simulation;   

Others  :  https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/44221/Drew_Ahern.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

This work investigated using the MACH2 plasma simulation code in replicating the results ofprevious experimental work on the gallium electromagnetic (GEM) thruster. MACH2 was alsoused to examine possible changes to the GEM thruster that could improve the performance of theactual thruster. Thruster radius ratios of 3.4 and 5 were examined, and a mass flow rate of 6 g/swas specified for each. In this study, several properties were examined and compared with theexperimental GEM thruster. A voltage of 148 V was computed for the GEM thruster with aradius ratio of 3.4, and a voltage of 222 V was computed for a thruster with a radius ratio of 5.Electron density and axial velocity values were analyzed and compared with experimental data.The simulated magnetic field near the cathode was shown to be very close to experimentalmeasurements. Pressure simulation results were assessed, which indicated the presence of anelectrothermal thrust component. Temperatures were observed and compared, and the electricalconductivity was examined. A momentum flow rate parameter was derived to examine thrustvalues, and results of 124 N and 131 N with thruster efficiencies of 38% and 28% werecalculated for the radius ratios of 3.4 and 5, respectively. Additionally, plasma heating wasfound to dominate in the region near the cathode surface.