Fundamental Studies on Erosion in MPD Thrusters

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to understand and quantify the mechanisms responsible for evaporative erosion in steady state magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters. This is necessary in order to predict thruster characteristics and lifetimes for a given design. The Back-EMF theory of Onset has been refined and expanded to enable prediction of erosion rates for steady state, self-field MPD thrusters. This theory is capable of explaining both the observed oscillations as well as the increased erosion observed at Onset. This work represents the first time that the plasma discharge and electrode processes have been coupled.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA253900

Entities

People

  • V. V. Subramaniam

Organizations

  • Ohio State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundary Layer
  • Boundary Layer Flow
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Electric Arcs
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Electron Emission
  • Energy Transfer
  • Field Emission
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Heat Transfer Coefficients
  • Ion Bombardment
  • Magnetic Forces
  • Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster