Unstructured 3D PIC/DSMC modeling of FEEP thruster backflow contamination

Author

Spirkin, A. ; Gatsonis, Nikolaos A.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Mech. Eng., Worcester Polytech. Inst., MA, USA

fYear

2004

fDate

1-1 July 2004

Firstpage

415

Abstract

Summary form only given. A three-dimensional PIC/DSMC numerical code is used to study a charge-exchange (CEX) ion backflow from a Field-Emission-Electric-Propulsion (FEEP) thruster. Contamination from backflow CEX ions generated in the plume can be an important issue in the spacecraft propulsion system operation. The effect of the neutralizer on the back-flow current is analyzed. The results are compared with previous three-dimensional simulations. The code used for the FEEP plumes simulations is developed on the unstructured tetrahedral grids. Neutral particles are simulated using Direct Simulations Monte Carlo (DSMC) method while charged particles follow the Particle in Cell (PIC) algorithm. Simulated collisions include elastic neutral-neutral, both elastic and CEX ion-neutral and charge particle collisions.

Keywords

Monte Carlo methods; aerospace propulsion; ion engines; plasma collision processes; plasma simulation; plasma transport processes; FEEP thruster backflow contamination; PIC algorithm; backflow current; charge exchange ion backflow; charge exchange ion-neutral collision; charge particle collision; direct simulations Monte Carlo method; elastic neutral-neutral collision; field emission electric propulsion thruster; neutralizer effect; particle in cell algorithm; spacecraft propulsion system operation; three-dimensional PIC/DSMC numerical code; unstructured 3D PIC/DSMC modeling; Contamination; Mechanical engineering; Monte Carlo methods; Particle collisions; Propulsion; Space vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Plasma Science, 2004. ICOPS 2004. IEEE Conference Record - Abstracts. The 31st IEEE International Conference on

Conference_Location

Baltimore, MD, USA

ISSN

0730-9244

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8334-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PLASMA.2004.1340200

Filename

1340200