High Power Steady State MPD Thruster

Abstract

Rotation symmetric magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters with self induced magnetic fields are investigated at higher current levels in a steady state operation mode. Three thruster development lines are followed: (a) watercooled nozzle type thrusters, (b) partly radiation cooled nozzle type thrusters, and (c) cylindrical watercooled thrusters. The goal to get 1 MW steady state power input could not be reached in the contract period because of two reasons: the heatflux into the nozzle throat of the investigated DT2 thruster got to unacceptable high values, which has to be overcome by a new construction and both for the nozzle type and cylindrical thrusters the cathode raised problems at high current densities: the thorium oxide agglomerates and the cathodes begin to melt out of their inner zones and become destroyed. Keywords: Steady state magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters; Electric propulsion; Cathodes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA225624

Entities

People

  • Christian Sleziona
  • Helmut Kurtz
  • Herbert Schrade
  • Monika Auweter-kurtz
  • Wolfgang Merke

Organizations

  • University of Stuttgart

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ceramic Materials
  • Control Systems
  • Current Density
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Equations
  • Flow Rate
  • Geometry
  • Heat Energy
  • Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
  • Measurement
  • Radiation
  • Steady State
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Materials Science and Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster