A comprehensive, numerical model of electro-thermal propulsion

Author

Silvestre, N. ; Hensel, D. ; Daree, K.

Author_Institution

French-German Res. Inst. Saint-Louis, France

Volume

29

Issue

1

fYear

1993

fDate

1/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

603

Lastpage

608

Abstract

A computer model of an electrothermal accelerator has been developed. It applies to the whole apparatus, consisting of a plasma generator and a gun barrel, and it makes it possible to study the interdependent physical processes in both components at the same time. The code comprises a two-dimensional, transient description of the plasma arc, a two-dimensional, two-phase interior ballistics module, and a preprocessor delivering the required plasma physical data. Some results on the flow field, pressure, and temperature in a typical accelerator are presented, and probable limitations on the performance of such a system are discussed. The code is designed for application to different concepts of electrothermal-chemical guns

Keywords

electric propulsion; electrical engineering computing; electromagnetic launchers; physics computing; plasma guns; plasma heating; plasma production; 2D two-phase interior ballistics module; computer model; electrothermal accelerator; electrothermal propulsion; electrothermal-chemical guns; flow field; gun barrel; numerical model; physical processes; plasma arc; plasma generator; preprocessor; pressure; system performance; temperature; Chemicals; Electron tubes; Electrothermal effects; Numerical models; Plasma accelerators; Plasma chemistry; Plasma density; Plasma properties; Plasma temperature; Propulsion;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.195644

Filename

195644