Title :
Performance optimization criteria for pulsed inductive plasma acceleration
Author :
Polzin, Kurt A. ; Choueiri, Edgar Y.
Author_Institution :
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
fDate :
6/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
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;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2006.875732
