The characteristics of the arc region of a plasma thruster are investigated by the numerical solution of coupled MHD equations. The flow is assumed to be two-dimensional, but all other realistic effects are included, i.e. the Hall effect, ion slip, and other dissipations such as viscosity, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity. The results show the current concentration at the trailing edge of the anode and the raised temperature of the area. The Hall current causes harmful effects by lowering the thrust efficiency and eroding the electrodes. The thermal diffusion is beneficial in that it raises the thrust efficiency and prevents the erosion of the electrodes.
Numerical analysis of MPD arcs for plasma acceleration
Numerische Analyse von magnetoplasmadynamischen Lichtbogenentladungen fuer die Plasmabeschleunigung
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science ; PS-15 , 5 ; 618-624
1987
7 Seiten, 5 Quellen
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Englisch
PLASMATEMPERATUR , ELEKTRISCHE LEITFAEHIGKEIT , ELEKTRODENOBERFLAECHE , ERWAERMUNG , HALL-EFFEKT , IONENTRIEBWERK , LICHTBOGENENTLADUNG , MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIK , NUMERISCHES VERFAHREN , OBERFLAECHENSTRUKTUR , PLASMADICHTE , SCHUBKRAFT , STROMDICHTE , TEILCHENBESCHLEUNIGER , THERMODIFFUSION , VISKOSITAET , WAERMELEITFAEHIGKEIT , TEMPERATUR , TWO-DIMENSIONAL FLOW
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