Performance optimization criteria for pulsed inductive plasma acceleration

Author

Polzin, Kurt A. ; Choueiri, Edgar Y.

Author_Institution

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL

Volume

34

Issue

3

fYear

2006

fDate

6/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

945

Lastpage

953

Abstract

A model of pulsed inductive plasma thrusters consisting of a set of coupled circuit equations and a one-dimensional momentum equation has been nondimensionalized leading to the identification of several scaling parameters. Contour plots representing thruster performance (exhaust velocity and efficiency) were generated numerically as a function of the scaling parameters. The analysis revealed the benefits of underdamped current waveforms and led to an efficiency maximization criterion that requires the circuit´s natural period to be matched to the acceleration timescale. It is also shown that the performance increases as a greater fraction of the propellant is loaded nearer to the inductive acceleration coil

Keywords

aerospace propulsion; ion engines; numerical analysis; plasma accelerators; acceleration timescale; contour plots; coupled circuit equations; efficiency maximization; natural period; one-dimensional momentum equation; plasma thrusters; pulsed inductive plasma acceleration; spacecraft propulsion; underdamped current waveforms; Acceleration; Coils; Coupling circuits; Equations; Optimization; Plasma accelerators; Plasma devices; Propulsion; Pulse circuits; Radio frequency; Acceleration modeling; nondimensional scaling parameters; pulsed inductive acceleration; pulsed plasma acceleration;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2006.875732

Filename

1643327