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Development of an engineering optimization tool for miniature pulsed plasma thrusters

Development of an engineering optimization tool for miniature pulsed plasma thrusters
Development of an engineering optimization tool for miniature pulsed plasma thrusters
Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT) are an established technology for compact thrust propulsion systems. Although PPT optimization has been performed previously it requires complex numerical codes. Although the scaling laws have been suggested they mainly applicable for large thrusters when edge effects can be neglected. A new 0D pulsed inductive acceleration model has been developed which links together the dynamics of the current sheet with the plasma dimensions and ionization processes. The model novelty is in a self-consistent estimation of the plasma sheet properties (temperature, density, thickness) driven by the magnetic pinch pressure and propellant ablation together with its simplicity. Parametric studies have been performed in an attempt to arrive at modified scaling laws for small PPTs.
electric propulsion, ablative pulsed plasma thruster, modelling
Golosnoy, I.O.
40603f91-7488-49ea-830f-24dd930573d1
Gabriel, S.B.
ac76976d-74fd-40a0-808d-c9f68a38f259
Ciaralli, S.
dd15fc8e-4a50-43f6-9cbf-0a87d025b5f6
Coletti, M.
f99567c2-8fab-42dd-9e25-c3f69495667f
Golosnoy, I.O.
40603f91-7488-49ea-830f-24dd930573d1
Gabriel, S.B.
ac76976d-74fd-40a0-808d-c9f68a38f259
Ciaralli, S.
dd15fc8e-4a50-43f6-9cbf-0a87d025b5f6
Coletti, M.
f99567c2-8fab-42dd-9e25-c3f69495667f

Golosnoy, I.O., Gabriel, S.B., Ciaralli, S. and Coletti, M. (2016) Development of an engineering optimization tool for miniature pulsed plasma thrusters. Space Propulsion 2016 (the 5th conference on space propulsion), Rome, Italy. 02 - 06 May 2016. 11 pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPT) are an established technology for compact thrust propulsion systems. Although PPT optimization has been performed previously it requires complex numerical codes. Although the scaling laws have been suggested they mainly applicable for large thrusters when edge effects can be neglected. A new 0D pulsed inductive acceleration model has been developed which links together the dynamics of the current sheet with the plasma dimensions and ionization processes. The model novelty is in a self-consistent estimation of the plasma sheet properties (temperature, density, thickness) driven by the magnetic pinch pressure and propellant ablation together with its simplicity. Parametric studies have been performed in an attempt to arrive at modified scaling laws for small PPTs.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 2 May 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 5 May 2016
Published date: 19 July 2016
Venue - Dates: Space Propulsion 2016 (the 5th conference on space propulsion), Rome, Italy, 2016-05-02 - 2016-05-06
Keywords: electric propulsion, ablative pulsed plasma thruster, modelling
Organisations: EEE

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 398332
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/398332
PURE UUID: 2cc52ac2-3c74-4f02-b03b-419664b2e6fa

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Date deposited: 25 Jul 2016 08:34
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 01:33

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Contributors

Author: I.O. Golosnoy
Author: S.B. Gabriel
Author: S. Ciaralli
Author: M. Coletti

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