Computational Investigations of Novel Micro-Glow Discharges for Potential Nanosatellite Thruster Applications

Abstract

The objective of this project was the development and application of a computational modeling approach for a fundamental understanding of the direct-current micro-discharge phenomena. A detailed, two-dimensional plasma simulation tool has been developed and implemented for the study of micro-discharges in the context of small-satellite electro-thermal propulsion. The special features of the model are a full self-consistent, multi-species, multi-temperature, treatment of plasma phenomena along with the effect of a net bulk flow in the system. The particular geometry of the micro-discharge based micropropulsion device defined the features of the computational model.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 31, 2005
Accession Number
ADA455902

Entities

People

  • Laxminarayan L. Raja

Organizations

  • University of Texas at Austin

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Computational Modeling
  • Direct Current
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Engineering
  • Gas Heating
  • Geometry
  • Glow Discharges
  • Nanosatellites
  • Simulations
  • Small Satellites
  • Space Charge
  • Thrusters
  • Two Dimensional
  • Voltage

Readers

  • Aerospace Propulsion Engineering.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster