High Power Steady State MPD Thrusters

Abstract

At the Institut fuer Raumfahrtsysteme (IRS) rotation symmetric magneto plasma dynamic thrusters with self induced magnetic fields are investigated at high current levels in a steady state operation mode. MPD thrusters with different geometrics were compared and the influence of mass flow rate and power input on the operating conditions of the thrusters explored. By optical and probe measurements a systematic investigation of the plasma plume has been started. The investigation of the various instabilities of the arc and the plasma flow appearing at high power levels was continued. The computer code development for the geometry optimization of continuous self-field MPD thrusters, running with argon, was modified by considering higher degrees of ionization, which showed better agreement with the experiment.... Electric propulsion, MPD Propulsion, Plasma diagnostic, Instability investigation flow discharge calculation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA267277

Entities

People

  • Cristian Sleziona
  • Harald Habiger
  • Helmut Kurtz
  • Herbert Schrade
  • Monika Auweter-kurtz

Organizations

  • University of Stuttgart

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Current Density
  • Differential Equations
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Energy
  • Fabry Perot Interferometers
  • Flow Rate
  • Heat Transfer
  • Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters
  • Measurement
  • Power Levels
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Steady State
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Thrust
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster